"Capital!" exclaimed Jinks, cracking his thumb and finger; and then the lad received instruction as to his first grand act of villainy, and while he was receiving it, Bess prepared the caldron, once more. Three hours elapsed, and the whistle of Wide-mouthed Bob was heard again. Jinks performed his porter's office as before, and the captain and three others of the gang speedily tugged up the stairs a couple of kegs of liquor, which were as speedily concealed in the subterranean room. "Where's the rest o' the birds?" asked the woman. "Sent 'em home to roost," replied the captain; "and now you and all of us must cut, old girl, and leave Jinks to his cage." "But not before we've tasted the new broach," said the woman. "No more tasting of it, this morning," answered Bob; "we shall soon be blown, if we carry on that game: we'll have breakfast and go." The word of the leader was law. The stew was again poured up; and when it was devoured, Sam having his share as before, the chief burglar, and the other three thieves, with the woman, departed; and Sam Simkins also set out on the errand for which Jinks had lately bestowed instruction upon him. At eight the following morning, Mr. Jonas Straitlace appeared in the twitchel, as before, and summoned the attention of Jinks by a bold rap. Jinks was speedily at the door, and Straitlace was again admitted into the thievish head-quarters. "Now for the chink!" said the broken-down lawyer. "But where's the lad?" asked Straitlace. "The moment you down with the dust, that moment I tell you where he is, safe and sound, and nearer home than you think of; so that you'll have very little trouble to seek him," answered Jinks. "When I find the lad I'll pay you," said the saddler; "you may be deceiving me." "Why, d—n it!" said Jinks, "what d'ye take me for?—let that sneaking fellow, who stands squeezed up in the corner there below, be witness between us." Straitlace turned pale; but Jinks was at the bottom of the stair in a moment, and again ascended, bringing up a man dressed in a thick top coat that covered his under dress. "Now, let this constable be witness between us," said Jinks: "he's a respectable man, and you could not have brought a better man with you." Straitlace was amazed;—but he summoned resolution, and said, "Constable, I insist upon your taking this man into custody, for having either decoyed away from me, or concealed, or harboured, my runaway 'prentice." The constable put on a very stupid look, and answered,—"Why, as to that, I've no proof of any part of it, you know, and I decline to interfere." Straitlace felt confounded at the fact of his own man, as he had deemed the constable, deserting him, and stood staring in amazement.