"Beware of the Jews?" he whispered, pointing to the other; and the conversation was continued in the following strain. Although in the common sense of the word it really was no conversation, as each of them addressed himself to me only, and I could find no reply, still, taking the word in its literal meaning (from con, together, and _verto_, I turn), it was indeed a conversation, for they turned me together, each one, as he addressed me, hooking his arm in mine and whirling me round like the handle of an air-pump or a badly constructed teetotum, and shaking a forefinger in my face, as if I were a parrot and he wanted me to swear. _Shylock of the green tract_.--"He is a swine and a scoundrel." _Israelite of the red_.--"He's a liar and a thief." _Shylock of the green_.--"And he'll get round you some way." _Israelite of red_.--"Ahab and brothers cheat everybody they can." _Shylock of green_.--"He'll be lending you money." _Red_.--"Whole town know them--" _Green_.--"Charge you thirty per cent." Red--"They are swindlers and dogs." _Green_.--"Look at our estimate." _Red_.--"Look at _our_ estimate." _Green_.--"Peep at our charges." _Red_.--"Five years' credit." _Green_.--"Come with us, sir," tugging me to the right. _Red_.--"This way, master," pulling me to the left. _Green_.--"Be advised; he'll rob you." _Red_.--"If you go he'll murder you." "Damn you both!" I roared; and letting fly both fists at the same time, I turned them both together on their backs and thus put an end to the conversation. Only just in time, though, for the remaining ten tribes, or their representatives, were hurrying towards me, each one swaying aloft a gaudy-coloured tract; and I saw no way of escaping but by fairly making a run for it, which I accordingly did, pursued by the ten tribes; and even had I been a centipede, I would have assuredly been torn limb from limb, had I not just then rushed into the arms of my feline friend from Bond Street. He purred, gave me a paw and many congratulations; was so glad I had passed,--but, to be sure, knew I would,--and so happy I had escaped the Jews; would I take a glass of beer? I said, "I didn't mind;" so we adjourned (the right word in the right place--adjourned) to a quiet adjoining hotel. "Now," said he, as he tendered the waiter a five-pound Bank of England note, "you must not take it amiss, Doctor, but--" "No smaller change, sir?" asked the waiter. "I'm afraid," said my friend (?), opening and turning over the contents of a well-lined pocket-book, "I've only got five--oh, here are sovs, he! he!" Then turning to me: "I was going to observe," he continued, "that if you want a pound or two, he! he!--you know young fellows will be young fellows--only don't say a word to my father, he! he! he!--highly respectable man. Another glass of beer? No? Well, we will go and see father!" "But," said I, "I really must go home first." "Oh dear no; don't think of such a thing." "I'm deuced hungry," continued I.