“If you don’t like your company, change it,” replied one to whom he had opened his mind. “Such a good hand as you are at a burglary, I don’t wonder that you had rather steal enough in one night to live upon for a month, than work as commoner hands do. You had better go back. Jerry will tell you how. Nothing is easier.” “Well; but there is my little woman yonder, that they were so kind as to send over at the same time; how is she to get back? She can’t turn sailor, and get her passage home in that way.” “Trust her for making terms with some gull of a sailor,” replied the other, laughing. “It is only following an old trade for a particular reason; and you’ll give her leave till you touch land again. But let me hear before you go; there are some acquaintance of mine in London that will be glad to know you; and you may chance to help one another; though, to be sure, you take a higher line.” “Are you thinking of sending over the fee they raised for your defence?” “I did intend it, as a point of honour; but they assure me they made a good bargain of it as it was. They could have paid the fee three times over out of the plate-chest they stole for it. So I don’t know that I need trouble myself.” “So while Counsellor H—— was preaching about your being tried that people might be safe, there was another robbery going on to pay him his fees. That’s rare! You should go back, (since the way is so easy,) and pick Counsellor H—’s pocket. That will mend the joke.” So much for the security to society from the exhibition of this kind of warning. -------------- CHAPTER VII. CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS.