“It is a child to be carried off,” he said, and then waited for the effect of his words. He saw that they were rather stunning even to these reckless villains. “A child to be carried off, your honor! that’s not over easy nor yet over safe,” said the dark ruffian. “Nor are you ever paid handsomely for jobs that are over easy and over safe! But I can tell you one thing—it is not over difficult nor over dangerous.” “Is it from a house, your honor?” inquired the dark ruffian. “No, from the streets.” “Carry off a child from the crowded streets of London, your honor? That seems to be impossible,” put in the red ruffian. “Hold your tongue, Roger,” said his black brother. “Now, don’t go quarrel before the gentleman! Manners is manners. If so be, you’re decent men, behave as sich!” put in the crone. “I only said it was impossible to carry off a child from the streets of London; and I’ll not deceive the gentleman. I’ll stick to it, as it is,” persisted Red Roger, who was called thus by his “pals.” “You will find that it is very easy. I have studied it out and matured a plan that must be perfectly successful.” “Let us hear it, your honor,” said the black one. “Well, listen,” whispered Everage, in a very low voice. “This child is about two years and a half old. He is the child of foreign parents who know not much of English life. He is sent out with his nurse, a black girl who wears a plaid turban instead of a bonnet; you may know her by that. He is sent out with this girl morning and evening of every fair day. She is a fool, and she takes him about Trafalgar square and up and down the street, and to St. Mary le Strand and along Fleet Street. And they stop and gaze in the shop windows, and stand with the crowd around every organ-grinder and monkey, and especially around every Punch and Judy. This is my plan. I will take an opportunity to point out the nurse and child to Mother Rooter. She can afterwards point them out to you. Once having seen them, you cannot possibly mistake them. Are you attending to me?” “With all our ears, sir,” answered the black villain, while the red one nodded emphatically. “Then listen! when you have once seen this nurse and child, you must watch for them, and arrange something like this manœuvre between you: One must be the abductor, the other must be the assistant. The one who is to carry off the child must have in his pocket a bottle of chloroform. Do you know what that is?” “Don’t we, sir? It has saved the slitting of many a windpipe!” chuckled the red wretch.