"If I knowed w'ere justice was," said the Bloater, sternly, "p'raps I might give Mr Sparks into 'is 'ands, but I don't. It's my opinion that _justice_ ain't finished yet. They've made 'is 'ands no doubt--and pretty strong ones they are too--but they 'aven't give 'im brains yet. 'Ows'ever, to make a long story short, 'as 'Amlet said to 'is father's ghost, w'ich was prince of Timbuctoo, I _do_ know Mr Sparks, and I _can_ give 'im into the 'ands of the p'lice--wot then?" "_Do it_!" said Mrs Dashwood, with sudden intensity of feeling and manner, "Do it, boy--" ("Bloater," murmured the lad), "do it, Bloater. Oh! you have no idea what a blessing it would be to--to--to--a poor, dear girl who is mad--infatuated and, and--then, he is _such_ a scoundrel; such a fire-raiser, deceiver, villain--" "You don't appear to like 'im yourself," remarked the Bloater. He said this so quietly and with an air of calmness which contrasted so strongly with Mrs Dashwood's excitement, that Little Jim gave vent to an irresistible "sk" and blew his nose violently to distract attention from it. "Will you not consent to give up a thorough scoundrel, who every one condemns?" demanded Mrs Dashwood, with sudden indignation. "Well, that depends--" "Bloater," said Mary, with increasing earnestness, "I cannot bribe you-- I have not the means even if I had the will; but I would not if I could. I scorn bribery. If you will not aid me for the sake of a poor, helpless, infatuated girl, who is on the brink of ruin--" "Missis Dashwood," said the Bloater, with a look of serio-comic dignity, "I scorns bribery as much as you does. `No bribery, no c'rupt'ons, no Popery,' them's my mottoes--besides a few more that there's no occasion to mention. W'ether or not I gives 'im up depends on circumstances. Now, I s'pose _you_ want's 'im took an' bagged, 'cause 'e ain't fit for your friend Martha Reading--we'll drop the `Miss' if you please. Well, wot I want to know is, does Martha think as you does?" "Of course not, boy. No doubt she knows that he is an unworthy scoundrel, but she can't prevail on herself to forsake him; so, you see, I want to help her a little." "Ah, I see--yes--I see. Well, missis, I'll take it into consideration. Come along, Jim." Without waiting for a reply, the Bloater quitted the house abruptly, followed by his friend. He walked very fast towards the City--so fast that Jim was compelled to trot--and was unusually silent. He went straight to the abode of Martha Reading, and found her sewing and weeping. "Ha! _he's_ bin with you, I see," said the Bloater. "Did 'e ask you to let 'im 'ide 'ere?" "Ye-es;" said Martha, hesitating; "but I refused to do it. God knows how willing--how willing--I would be to shelter and save him if I could!" "Would you shelter a _guilty_ man?" demanded the Bloater, sternly. "I don't know that he is guilty," said Martha, evasively. "But, tell me, what did Mrs Dashwood want with you?"