rled with the
smile of victory. As soon as he awoke his hand sought the pocket where
the wonderful book lay; and even as he tidied up the office and prepared
the gov'nor's breakfast, he was engaged in mortal inward combats.

"Say, gov'nor," cried he, with jubilant face, as Reginald entered, "I've
done for another of 'em. Topped him clean over."

"Another of whom?" said Reginald.

"Them pals a-waitin' in the 'all," said he; "you know, in that there
pallis."

"Oh! in the Beautiful Palace we were reading about," said Reginald.
"Who have you done for this time?"

"That there Medlock," said the boy.

"Medlock! What _are_ you talking about?" said Reginald, in blank
amazement.

"Oh, I've give him a wonner," said the boy, beaming. "He says to me,
`Collar all the letters your gov'nor writes 'ome,' he says, `and I'll
give you a tanner for every one you shows me.'"

"Love, you're talking rubbish!" said Reginald indignantly.

"Are I? don't you make no mistake," said the boy confidently; "I knows
what he says; and that there letter you wrote home last night and leaves
on the table, `That's a tanner to me,' says I to myself when I sees it
this morning. `A lie,' says I, recollecting of that chap in the story-
book. So I lets it be; and my eye, ain't that a topper for somebody--oh
no!"

Reginald stared at the boy, half stupefied. The room whirled round him;
and with a sudden rush the hopes of his life seemed to go from under
him. It was not for some time that he could find words to say,
hoarsely,--

"Love, is this the truth, or a lie you are telling me?"

"Lie--don't you make no error, gov'nor--I ain't on that lay, I can tell
you. I'm goin' right into that there pallis, and there's two on 'em
topped a'ready."

"You mean to say Mr Medlock told you to steal my letters and give them
to him?"

"Yes, and a tanner apiece on 'em, too. But don't you be afraid, he
don't get none out of me, not if I swings for it."

"You can go out for a run, Love," said Reginald. "Come back in an hour.
I want to be alone."

"You aren't a-giving me the sack?" asked the boy with falling
countenance.

"No, no."

"And you ain't a-goin' to commit soosanside while I'm gone, are yer?" he
inquired, with a suspicious glance at Reginald's blanched face.

"No. Be quick and go."

"'Cos if you do, they do say as a charcoal fire--"

"Will you go?" said Reginald, almost angrily, and the boy vanished.

I need not describe to the reade