This conversation was carried on in the corner of the room, from which we could see that the group around the fire were preparing to hear a song from "Bilking Bet," who cleared her throat twice with a pull at a gin bottle--no glasses here to annoy a person--and began, in a mellow and not unpleasing voice, the following slang song which is common among the London costermongers, but is seldom heard among the thieves. The song, no doubt, she owed to her early costermonger associations, before she became a pickpocket. She was now one of the most expert in London, and was the kept mistress of a well known burglar, who had, two days before I saw her, broken open a tea shop in the Old Bailey, near Ludgate Hill. The song was as follows: "THE COSTER' GAL." Some chaps they talk of damsels fine, Being angels bright and fair, But they should only see my girl, She is beyond compare, She is the finest girl that's out, Her name is Dinah Denny, When you are out you'll hear her shout "New Walnuts, twelve a penny!" Chorus.--S'help me never none so clever, As my Dinah Denny, Can shout about, all round about "New Walnuts, twelve a penny." Her voice is like a dove, And bright is her black eye, I think she does me truly love, She looks at me so sly. She sports the smartest side spring boots, Eclipse her cannot many, And shows feet small, while she does call "New Walnuts, twelve a penny." Chorus, &c. Rich noblemen may dress their wives In silk or satin dress, But Dinah I like quite as well In her Manchester print, "Express," We're going to be wed, and then If offspring we have many, We'll be nuts on, and christen them "New Walnuts, twelve a penny." Chorus, &c. [Illustration: "BILKING BET TAKES THE CHAIR."] "Now I think that's werry neat and happropriate to the hoccasion," said a cockney lodger who had successfully begged two-pence from the detective to pay for his lodging, which he handed over to "Purty Bill" as soon as he got the pennies. "I moves we put Bilking Bet in the cheer? Wot dye say, gentlemen and ladies hall, to the proposition?" "Hall right. Bet take the cheer and give us some of yer 'Ouse of Commons." "Bilking Bet" was escorted to the middle of the group, placed standing on a three-legged stool without any visible back, and assuming as stately an air as she was capable of, the young girl, with the most perfect sang froid, began: [Sidenote: "TEDDY THE KINCHIN'S SONG."] "Me lords and gentlemen, and likewise the ladies. Me noble pickpockets, gonoffs, blokes, and pinchers. I am with you this hevening, for what purpose, I hask? FOR WOT PURPOSE I HASK? Why, to be present at the feast which takes place hannerally among the members of our noble purfession--shall I say dignified purfession? No; I won't." "But ye have said it, Bet," said Kicking Billy.