"That may or may not be," said Effingham, slightly offended. "Now, when he died, you cleared off his traps." "Only a few sticks; very poor sticks. Ah, ma tear, vot I lost by that transaction! Vy, there vosn't enough to clear me in a sixth part of vot I'd advanced to Tony." "Well, I'm not here to enter into that--that was your lookout. But amongst what you took away there was a desk." "Vos there? 'Pon my soul I can't reckleckt; not that I'm goin' to gainsay you. Vos there a desk, now?" "And in it," continued Effingham, not seeming to heed him, "there was an overdue bill for twenty-five pounds accepted by Walter Burgess." "Lord now! Vos there indeed?" "Look here, Mr. Lyons. If you don't know anything, all right. We won't waste our time or our money, but we'll go to those who can help us." "Vot a headstrong boy it is! Who said I couldn't help you? Go on now,--a bill accepted by Walter Burgess?" "Exactly. Now that bill's no use to any one, and we want you to give it to us." "Ha, ha! clever boys, clever boys! Vot large-hearted fellows too, to want to buy a bill that ain't of any use to any vun! O, vot generous boys!" "It's no use, Griffiths," said Effingham angrily; "he either don't know or won't say anything about it." "Steady," said Griffiths. "Come, Mr. Lyons, say you've got the stiff, and name your price." "Accepted by Walter Burgess, eh?" said the old gentleman; "yes, I reckleckt that bill; O yes, I reckleckt him." "Well now, bring your recklecktion into something practical, and I'll give you this for that bill," said Mr. Effingham, producing a five-pound note. The old Jew's eyes glistened at the sight of the money; and then his face fell, and he looked horribly disappointed. "You should have it for that," said he; "you should have it for that, and velcome; only there's vun little reason vy I can't make it over to you." "What's that?" cried Effingham. "Vell, it's a strong reason, as you'll allow ven I tell it to you. I can't let you have the bill, because--because I haven't got it myself." Mr. Effingham swore a sharp oath, and even Mr. Griffiths looked disconcerted. "Come along," said the former,--"we've wasted time enough with the pottering old fool, who's only selling us, and--" "Vait a minute," said Mr. Lyons, laying his hand on the other's arm,--"vait a minute, ma tear. Though I haven't got the leetle bill myself, perhaps I know who has." "That's likely enough," said Griffiths, "well, who has?" "Ah, that's tellings, ma tear. I shall vant--just a leetle something to say." "I'll give this," said Effingham, producing a sovereign. "Vell, it ain't enough; but you're such headstrong fellows. There!" said Mr. Lyons, slipping it into his pocket; "now do either of you know a gal who was under Tony Butler's thumb at vun time, but who hated him mortal, and vos very sveet on vun of Tony's friends?" "I do!" cried Griffiths; "Lizzie Ponsford."