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V" That's all at resent,”-said Nadgett, putting. uphis
rent pocket.-boo: which from more habit ho‘ had pro-
duced when he began his revelation, and had kept in his
hand all thevtimo ; ,“ but there: is plenty more to come.
You asked me for the facts so far ; I have related them,
and need'not.detain these gentlemen any longer. Are
you ready, Mr. Slyme ‘Z "
“And something more," replied that worthy rising.
"If you walk round to the oilice, we shall be there as
soon as you. Tom I Get a coach l”
The ollicer to whom he spoke departed for that pur-
pose. Old Martin lingered for a few moments, as if he
would have addressed some words to Jonas ; but looking
round, and seeing him still seated on the floor, rocking
himself in a savage manner to and fro, took Chnf[ey’s
arm, and slowl followed Nad cit out. John “’estlock
and Mark Tap ey accompanie them. Mrs. Gamp had
tottcrcd out first, for the better display of her feelings,
in a kind of walking swoon; for Mrs. Gamp performed
swoons of different sorts, upon a moderate notice, as Mr.
Mould did Funerals.
' “Ila 1" muttered-Slyme, looking after them. " Upon
my soul! As insensi le of being disgraced by having
such a nephew as myself, in such a situation, as he was
of my being an honour and a credit to the family. That's
the return I get for having humbled my spirit--such a
spirit as mine-to earn a livelihood, is it?”
. IIe got up from his chair, and kicked it away indig-
nantly. ‘ .
.“And such a livelihood tool ‘Vixen there are hun-
dreds of men, not fit to hold a candle tome, rollin in
carriages and living on their fortunes. Upon my son it's
a nice world l"
His eyes encountered Jonas, who looked earnestly
towards him, and moved his lips as if he were whisper
mg.
“ Eh ? " said Slyme.
J onus (glanced at the attendant whose back was towards
him, an made a clumsy motion with his bound hands
towards the door. ' '
“ Ilumph l” said Slyme, thoughtfully. “I couldn't
hope to dis race him into anything when you have shot
so far ahcaii of me though. I forgot that."
. Jonas repeatedthe same look and gesture.
" Jack l" said Slyme.
'. “ llallo I" returned his man. .
“ Go down to the door, ready'for the coach. Call out
when it comes. I'd rather have you there. Now then,"
he added, taming hastily to Jonas, when the man was
gone. “ “’hat’s the matter?”
' Jonas essaycd to rise.
“Stop a bit," said Slyme. “It's not so easy when
your?wrists are tight together. Now then 1 Up 1 XVhat
is it ” .
‘ “ Put your hand in my ocket. Here I The breast-
pocket, on the left i " said onas.
- He did so ;'and drew out a purse.
“ There's a hundred pound in it," said Jonas, whose
words were almost unintelligible ; ashis face, in its pal-
lor and agony, was scarcely human.
. Sl me looked at him ;. gave it into his hands ; and
shoe : his head. -
“ I can’t. I daren’t. I couldn't if I dared. Those fol-
lows below--” . .
" Escape’simpossible," said, Jonas. “ I know it. One
hundred pound for only five minutes in the next room !"
“ iVl1at to do? ” he asked. .
I The face of his prisoner as he advanced to whisper in
his ear, made him recoil involuntarily. But he stopped
and listened to him. The words were few, but his own
face changed as he heard them.. i . . . .
. ‘.‘ I have it about me," saidJonas, putting his hands to
his throat, as though whatever he referred to, were hid-
den in his neck-kerchief. “ How should you know of it?
How could ‘on know? A hundredpound for only five
minutes int 10 next room I The time's passin Speak ? "
. '‘.It would bo.more-more crcditab e to t re family,”
observed S1yme,. with trembling lips “ I wish you
hadn't. told me half so much. ‘Less; would have served , H I
, your purpose.’ .,You'might have kept itio yourself.". '
= “ A hundred pound for only five minutes in the next
room! v’Spcakl" cried Jonas’, desperately, i .
011.4 RLES .DIOKENS ’. ‘WORKS.
V m,‘to01;'u,e purse,-2 Jonas,:with a wild unsteady step, ‘
retreated tothe door in the glass partition. 7x i - - r
“ Stop 1 "r cried Si me, catching at his skirts. .4‘,' I don’:
knownbout this. let it must end so at last- :Aro you
guilty?” 7-‘ ' t " ‘
“Yesl”saidJonas..r ' W J 3 =..-
“ Are the proofs as they.wero told Just now i’?-. 3 -
“Yes!” said Jonas. ' I ‘ or ' '-
“ “'ill you-will you engage to say a--a Prayer, or
something of that sort?" faitercd Slynun. s
Jonas broke from him without replying,
door between them. , ' = ‘
Slyme listened at the keyhole. After that, he crept
away on tiptoe, as far off as he could; andlooked awful y
towards the place. lie was roused by the arrival of the
coach, and their letting down the steps.’ > . I >
" Ile's getting a few things together,’ he said, leaning
out of window, and speaking to the two men below, who
stood in the full light of a strr-.ct-lan1p. - “Keep your
eye upon the back, one of you, for form's sake." 4 I 7:
One of the men withdrew into the court.- The other,
seating himself on the steps of the coach, remained hr
conversation with Slyme at the window; who perhaps
had risen to be his superior, in virtue of his old pl-open.’
sity (one so much lauded by the murdered man) of being
always round the corner. A useful habit in his present
calling. 4 t w v I --W1.-"‘
" “’here is he ?" asked the man. - - ; V .; ‘:
Slyme looked into the room for an instant, and gave his‘-
7
and closed;
head a jerk as much as to say, “ Close at hand. Isee him." '
“ Ile’s booked," observed the man. 4 - z t
" Throu h," said Slyme. - w i -- i I .
They loo 'ed at each other, and up and down the street.‘
The man on the coach-steps'to0k hishat oil, and put
it on again, and whistled a little- v ’ . . Q .3:
“ I say i he's taking his time !" he rcmonstrated. -.3;
“ I allowed him five minutes," said Slyme.‘ .“'l‘ime's‘
more than'up, though. I'll bring him down." ,. t .
He withdrew from the window accordingly, and walked
on tiptoe to the. door in tho partitiorna Ilo llstcncd.
There was not a sound within. Io set the candles near‘
it, that they might shine through the glass. .
It was not easy, he found to make up his mind to the
opening of the door. But he flung it wide open sudden-
ly, and with a noise ; then retreated. After peeping in
and listenin again, he entered. r is . v -.
He starte back as his eyes met those of. Jonas. stand-
ing iu an angle of the wall, and staring at him. His neck-
kerchief was off ; his face was ashy pale. .
V “ You're too soon,” said Jeans, with an abject whim-’
per “I've not had time. I have not been able to do it.‘
--five minutes more-two minutes more !--only one I ‘f
Slyme gave him no reply, but thrusting the purse upon’
him and forcing it back into his pocket, called up his men. -
He whined, and cried, and cursed, and entrealcd them,‘
and struggled, and submitted, in the same brcatlunud’
had no power to stand. But they got him away and into
the coach, where they put him on a seat, but he soon fell
pliloaning down among the straw at the bottom, and lay
ere. - . . . . . . , ,,
The two men were with him ; Slyme being on the box
with the driver; and they let him lie.. Happening to
pass a fruiterer's on their wa ; the door of which was
open, then rh the shop was by this time shut; one of
them remar ed how faint the peaches smelt. - ,4 , gun;
The other, assented at .the moment, but presently
stooped down in quick alarm, and looked at the ])l‘l$OIl0f.'
“Stop the coach! He has oisoued himselfl ‘,Tll0>
smell comes from this bottle in llS hnnd l":, 1 Ca '
The hand had shut upon it tight. l‘Vith that rigidltyof‘
grasp with which no living man, in the full strength and
energy. of lifc,,can clutch a prize he has won., . .
., They. dragged him out, into ‘the dark street; but jur ',
Judge, and iangman could have done no more, and could
do nothing new. Dead, dead, dcad.p ; r , , , ‘ i
IL‘:
, .enAr'rea LII.[T'
Irfwhlcvhithei Table: aired Turn).-id. conzgileliily C-‘wide Delhi. i '
.0LD.MAItTlN'6 cherished, rejects, so long‘ 1.maen1 in
his own breast, so frequent y in danger of abrupt dis-
f