It had been agreed between them that, once their joint property realized and the division fairly made, they should separate for good. Marston had long ago announced his intention to ‘turn the game up;’ Brooks had determined to get out of the country for a bit in case of accidents; Preene had not said what he was going to do, and Heckett had been equally silent. He had never been very communicative, and as he was only an extra hand, laid on for this special job, none of them troubled much about him. When the night came, however, for them to separate, and they left the house, Heckett, who had walked on by himself, found that Marston was coming quickly after him. ‘Well, Josh,’ he said, in his cheeriest tones, ‘I don’t think you’ve done badly, have you?’ ‘I ain’t done as well as you,’ answered Mr. Heckett, surlily; ‘but then I ain’t a swell.’ ‘What are you going to do now Josh? Going into the animal line again?’ ‘No, I ain’t got no animals now, savin’ that there parrot, as cusses wus nor ever. I carn’t have no business now the gal’s gorn. She was my right hand like, and I ain’t been the same since she went.’ ‘Oh,’ said Marston, looking at Heckett quite innocently, ‘then she’s never come back?’ ‘Come back? no. I’ve heerd on her twice as she’s safe and ‘appy, but I ain’t been able to find out where she is. In a re-formeratury or something, I s’pose.’ ‘Very likely,’ answered Marston. ‘I thought oncet as somebody had got ‘old on her for to get her to blab about the crib; but I don’t think that, cus they’d a sent her back directly they found out as she know’d nothink. Still it’s a rum go, her hookin’ it like that. I shall come across her some day, I guess,’ added the old dog-fancier, shaking his fist at an imaginary Gertie, ‘and then I’ll make it warm for her, the jade.’ They had reached the end of the Kilburn Road, and were getting to Maida Vale. ‘I’m going off here, Josh,’ said Marston. ‘If we don’t meet again, good-night.’ ‘If we don’t meet again!’ exclaimed Heckett, with surprise. ‘What, are you a-goin’ to furren parts?’ ‘Perhaps.’ ‘That’s ockard,’ growled Heckett. ‘Suppose I might want to see you on business?’ ‘I’ve finished with business.’ Heckett contracted his features into something that was meant for a smile. ‘Going to retire, eh? Made your fortin. Well, you have had a good haul out of this affair, and no mistake. Come, gov’nor, don’t you think you ought to stand me another thou.?’ ‘No, I don’t,’ answered Marston decidedly. ‘A bargain’s a bargain, and you’ve had your share.’ ‘All right, gov’nor; only, of course, the more I get now the less likely I should be to get hard up and ‘ave pr’aps to come a ferretin’ out old friends and a borrerin’ of ‘em.’ Marston looked at his companion sharply. He understood the implied threat. ‘When that misfortune happens, Josh, it will be time enough to talk about it. Good night.’