“It is none of these things, as you might have judged, else I should not have come. Yet it is akin to one supposition that you have advanced; and you really may want help. Who are the people that share your attic room and your confidence? But, hush! here come some of the other passengers; wait till they have gone.” The two conspirators were silent for a moment, and then, when they had their corner to themselves again, Everage repeated his question, and the old woman answered: “Who are they? you ask me, sir. Well, there is, first of all, my two brothers, as honest, trusty lads——” “‘As ever scuttled ship, or cut a throat,’” suggested Everage. “Yes, that they are, sir; and so you’ll find them,” said the old woman, who did not understand, or, perhaps, did not distinctly hear the quotation,—“honest and trusty, and true and good.” “Although they knock your head about?” observed Everage, who had not forgotten that piece of news. “Oh, your worship, that was drink; it wasn’t to say _them_.” “Ay! ‘when the wine’s in the wit’s out,’ I suppose.” “Just so, your honor; though it’s precious little wine they gets, poor souls. It’s most in general beer, or, if they’re in luck, gin.” “Aye, to be sure! Well, if they serve me faithfully, they and you shall be kept in gin the rest of your lives.” “Oh, your honor’s worship’s reverence, that would be heavenly,” exclaimed Mrs. Rooter, with enthusiasm. “They’ll be true to you, sir—they’ll be true to you till death do you part, and arterwards, sir! _and arterwards_; for I never could see the good of being true till death and then turning false to you arter you’re dead, or arter they are.” “No, to be sure. But about these brothers of yours,—are they the only persons, or are there any others who share your attic?” “Well, yes, sir; there’s my grand-darter Meg, as honest and truthful a gal as ever——” “Picked a pocket, or told a falsehood.” “No, sir, she don’t, nor she wouldn’t do nyther the one nor yet the other—not even in the way of business, as many an honest tradesman do.” “But that’s rather hard on the honest tradesman, is it not?” smiled Everage. “Gurr-r-r!” exclaimed the old woman, grinning and showing her snags of teeth. “Gurr-r-r! They hunt us poor creatures away from their shops and stalls, accusing of us of prowling about to see what we can pick up, when all they theirselves is a doing of the gentlefolks to no end! Don’t tell me!” “But about this girl? Is she—your granddaughter—and her uncles, the only inmates of your attic chamber?” “Yes, your honor, the onliest ones, and quite to be depended on.” “Very well, then, I will look in at your place at nine o’clock this evening.” “And much good may it do your honor and us, too. The Lord bless you, sir. But mind and don’t forget, your honor’s reverence, the four B’s and Number Nine.” “I will not forget. I have it down in my note-book.”