The burglar was conducted into a large back room, which presented the appearance of an old curiosity shop. It was crammed full of articles of almost every conceivable description. “There now, take a chair, and make yourself at home. I’m happy and proud to see you,” ejaculated the Jew, rubbing his hands together. “There’s quite enough of that. You’re about as glad to see me as I am to see you,” observed Peace. “Vell, then, ve von’t say any more about it. Let’s to bishness. You’ve got something for me, I dare say.” His visitor opened his bag, and placed a number of articles on the table. These consisted of gold trinkets of various descriptions, silver plate, spoons, forks, and fruit knives, but more noticeable than all the rest was the massive silver cup which the burglar had purloined from the mill-owner’s residence at Dudley Hill. On this was engraved the owner’s name, and the inscription signified that it had been presented to the master by the workpeople employed in his establishment. The Jew examined each article separately, and shook his head in a deprecating manner as some of them came under his inspection. This was a way he had so that he might thereby depreciate them in the eyes of the party who offered them for sale. Some young hands were taken in by his manner, which to say the truth was never very encouraging. “Oh, I see――plated,” he would ejaculate, when handling a genuine silver article, which he would push on one side as worthless. These little pleasantries were habitual with him. It is a well-known fact to those who are acquainted with the subject that the burglar or thief never realises half, nor, indeed, in many instances a third, of the value of the property he purloins. The sacrifice he has to make in obtaining ready cash for the same is enormous. The Jew “fence,” as he is termed, who purchases the goods obtains by far the largest booty, and this is done with but little risk. The receivers, as a rule, are seldom captured and brought to justice, it being at all times most difficult to prove their guilt. “Well,” said Peace, after the Jew had finished his scrutiny of the various articles, “will they suit you?” “Umph, there are some good things among them, but ash to the others, vell I don’t care much about them.” “Don’t have them then,” returned his companion. “I’ll have them all at a price.” “Yes, I understand what that means――at your price, about a quarter of their value.” The Jew regarded the speaker with a half angry glance. “I give the utmost I can afford at all times――to my friends especially. Indeed, Mishter Peace, I often lose by my purchases; bishness ish pad――there are no buyers, money is tight. You don’t know how hard it is to get rid of goods, some especially. Now, there’s that presentation cup――vat can I do with it? See the risk I run in――――” “Get out!” cried Peace, testily. “Put it in the melting pot――risk be hanged. You can’t gammon me, you old sinner.”