"What am I to do to earn it?" asked Blueskin, with a disgusting leer,--"cut a throat--or throw myself at your feet--eh, my dear?" "Give me that child," returned the lady, with difficulty overcoming the loathing inspired by the ruffian's familiarity. "Oh! I see!" replied Blueskin, winking significantly, "Come nearer, or they'll observe us. Don't be afraid--I won't hurt you. I'm always agreeable to the women, bless their kind hearts! Now! slip the purse into my hand. Bravo!--the best cly-faker of 'em all couldn't have done it better. And now for the fawney--the ring I mean. I'm no great judge of these articles, Ma'am; but I trust to your honour not to palm off paste upon me." "It is a diamond," said the lady, in an agony of distress,--"the child!" "A diamond! Here, take the kid," cried Blueskin, slipping the infant adroitly under her scarf. "And so this is a diamond," added he, contemplating the brilliant from the hollow of his hand: "it does sparkle almost as brightly as your ogles. By the by, my dear, I forgot to ask your name--perhaps you'll oblige me with it now? Hell and the devil!--gone!" He looked around in vain. The lady had disappeared. CHAPTER III. The Master of the Mint. Jonathan, meanwhile, having ascertained the parentage of the child from Wood, proceeded to question him in an under tone, as to the probable motives of the attempt upon its life; and, though he failed in obtaining any information on this point, he had little difficulty in eliciting such particulars of the mysterious transaction as have already been recounted. When the carpenter concluded his recital, Jonathan was for a moment lost in reflection. "Devilish strange!" thought he, chuckling to himself; "queer business! Capital trick of the cull in the cloak to make another person's brat stand the brunt for his own--capital! ha! ha! Won't do, though. He must be a sly fox to get out of the Mint without my knowledge. I've a shrewd guess where he's taken refuge; but I'll ferret him out. These bloods will pay well for his capture; if not, _he'll_ pay well to get out of their hands; so I'm safe either way--ha! ha! Blueskin," he added aloud, and motioning that worthy, "follow me." Upon which, he set off in the direction of the entry. His progress, however, was checked by loud acclamations, announcing the arrival of the Master of the Mint and his train.