"Joe Williams," answered the little thief readily, glancing up with his brown eyes full into the inspector's face. "Your address?" "First door to the left, three pairs hup, Peter's Court, Seven Dials," as quickly replied the homeless boy. The inspector replaced his note-book, assured "Williams" that he would make inquiries about him, and walked off, while the little thief was quickly surrounded by admiring street pals who praised his cleverness, clapped him on the back, and laughed loudly over the joke of the school inspector being outdone, and looking in vain for "Williams" in the room three pair up, Seven Dials. For a time Robin was cheered by the applause of his companions, but fresh thoughts of Dolly brought fresh tears to his eyes, and he walked slowly and sadly away. Passing by a coffee-stall, it had the effect of partly arousing his hunger. He felt in his pocket for three halfpence which were still left out of his eightpence. A penny would buy him a basin of hot coffee, a halfpenny would secure to him a morsel of bread. He was not so hungry as yesterday, but he was colder, and his cough was worse. He got some breakfast at this coffee-stall, and then walked on, feeling better. As usual, his bright eyes roved to right and left for any chance of pilfering that might occur. He connected no wrong with this; he knew neither right nor wrong. The law, he understood well, was against thieves; the police were against thieves; the law and the police were his natural enemies, they had torn from him Helen, his only friend. He took, when well and bright, a decided pleasure in outwitting these his enemies. To-day, however, he was too ill and miserable to take pleasure in anything. The sky was leaden tinted, and foretold either more rain or more snow; the short dull winter's day broke gloomily. Yesterday, when suffering the keenest and sharpest pangs of hunger, Robin had looked round him in vain for the faintest chance of stealing. He had looked until night in vain. All the stalls were well guarded; all the men wore overcoats tightly buttoned up, no chance of anything sticking out of their pockets; all the ladies held their purses firmly inside their muffs. To-day, however, when less hungry and less anxious, a chance, and a golden chance, soon presented itself.