The poor labourer sighed: he would have remained honest, and kept his wife and daughter so, if he could; but want and houseless wanderings in the cold street stared him in the face—and he resigned himself to the bitter destiny that was thus forced upon him and his family! In the mean time Old Death had taken a seat near the fire, and was deep in a whispered conversation with Mutton-Face Sal. "Where's Josh Pedler?" he asked. "He'll be in shortly," was the answer. "He's only gone out to fetch something for his supper." "And so Tim the Snammer is lumbered?" said Old Death. "Yes: he's in Clerkenwell. But you'll get him off when he goes up again 'afore the beak on Saturday—won't you, old chap?—now, won't you?" "I don't know—I don't know. He isn't one of my men: he never would give me a turn. His name doesn't appear against a number on my list." "But he will give you all his business in future, if you'll get him off this time—just this time," said the girl coaxingly. "We shall see what Josh has to tell me—I never promise in a hurry," returned Old Death. "Besides, it's not the rule to assist a man that goes to others to do his business. Tim gets his notes changed at old Isaacs[5]—or at Milberry's[6]—or at Mrs. Davis's[7]—or at Rayner's[8]—or——" And as Old Death enumerated his competitors, telling them off on his fingers slowly, one after the other, his jealousy arose to such a pitch that the workings of his countenance became absolutely frightful. "Now, what's the use of going on like this?" said Sal. "I tell you that Tim shan't have no more to do with them people, if you'll only get him off this time. None of them can do it as sure as you; and if you only tell me it shall be done, why—it's as good as done." At this moment the door opened, and a tall, rather good-looking, but rakish and shabbily-dressed man, of about five-and-twenty, made his appearance. "Here's Josh!" cried the girl. The thief and Old Death exchanged greetings; and the latter proposed to adjourn to a public-house in the neighbourhood to talk over the business. Thither the two men, accompanied by Mutton-Face Sal, accordingly repaired; and Bones suffered himself to be persuaded to receive the three five-pound notes and the sovereign, mentioned in the flash letter, as the price of his endeavours to procure the discharge of Tim the Snammer. The old man then took his departure, and Josh Pedler returned with Sal to the lodging-house. ----- Footnote 3: