"It won't do, it won't do," muttered the old man, taking his seat after glancing at the note. "I don't like it.--Well," he said aloud, "have you found that wax?" "It was in my pocket," said Isaac, slowly and seriously pointing to the discovered necessary covered with bread-crumbs, tobacco-dust, and flue. "Now then, let's have a bit more news," said Matt, once more settling himself. "Ain't there a murder nowheres?" said Isaac, whose work was now progressing. "No, there ain't!" said Matt gruffly. "Nice taste you've got; but here's two fires--p'r'aps they'll do for you?" "Ah!" said Isaac slowly, "let's have them;" but again, to Matt's annoyance, further progress was stayed by the entrance of a man to dispose of three pairs of old boots. Old Matt crumpled up his paper and put it away in disgust, and as soon as the man had taken his departure he began to examine the boots. "Ah!" he said, "nice trade yours--three pair of decent boots for three shillings; and then you'll touch them up and sell them for five shillings a pair. Tell you what--I'll give you a shilling and my old ones for this pair." "Why, you can't wear 'em till they're mended," said Isaac. "Can't I?" replied Mat with a grim smile; "I can wear these, old fellow, which are a deal worse;" and he placed one of his old ones on the bench. This was unanswerable, so Isaac only smoked. "Try which pair fits you best," he said at last, "and I'll do them up a little bit for another shilling." "No book-cover soles," said Matt, pointing with his thumb over his shoulder at the heap in the back-room. Isaac grinned after his slow fashion, and then growled, "Fust-class leather and good workmanship." "For two shillings?" said Matt. "And the old ones," said Isaac. "Why, they're worth nothing to you," said Matt. "And they ain't worth nothing to you," said Isaac. "S'pose I'm going out to dinner and want a change?" said the old man with a grin. "'Nother shilling, then," said Isaac determinedly. "Why, they ain't worth sixpence!" exclaimed Matt indignantly. "Not to you," said Isaac slowly. "No, nor you, nor anybody, except the owner," said Matt. "Which is it to be?" said Isaac in intervals, between drawing home stitches. "Two bob and the old uns, or three bob wi'out?" "Done up?" said Matt. "Done up," said Isaac. "With new leather?" said Matt. "With fust-class, well-seasoned leather," said Isaac, cutting off his wax-ends. "Take 'em at two, then," said Matt, rising; "and I'll tell you what it is, Ike, I put up with your smoke and your courting; but if you don't make an end of choking me up with your confounded waste-paper, I'll move, Ike--I'll move."