larks!" replied Stumpy, who had produced the
pipe, and was endeavouring to rekindle its few remaining embers at the
candle; "try ag'in."

"Well, I don't see as he'll fetch seventeen-and-six, but I'll do it for
_you_."

"Try ag'in," coolly replied Stumpy.

The man did try again, and named a sovereign, which my master also
declined.

In this manner he advanced to twenty-four shillings.

"Won't do," said Stumpy.

"Then you can take 'im off," said the man, with an oath; "he ain't worth
the money."

"Yas 'e is, an' a tanner more," put in Stumpy.

The man uttered a few more oaths, and again examined me. Then he
dropped me in his pocket, and slowly counted out the purchase-money from
a drawer at his side.

Stumpy watched the process eagerly, doubtless calculating with
professional interest how the entire hoard of this thieves' broker could
at some convenient opportunity be abstracted. However, for the present
he made sure of the sum given him, and dropped the coins one by one into
his tail pocket.

"Now lay down," said the man, "and make yourself comfortable."

I fancy Stumpy was a good deal more comfortable in his drain-pipe an
hour or two ago than in this foul, choking lodging-room; however, he
curled himself up on the floor near the dying woman, and did his share
in exhausting the air of the apartment.

I should offend all rules of good taste and decency if I described the
loathsome room; I wish I could forget it, but that I shall never do.
Suffice it to say daylight broke in at last on the squalid scene, and
then one by one the sleepers rose and departed--all but Stumpy and she
whose groaning had risen ceaselessly and hopelessly the livelong night.

"Old Sal's very bad," said Stumpy to his host.

"Yas, she'll have to clear out of here."

"She's nigh dying, I reckon," said the boy.

"Can't help that; she ain't paid a copper this three weeks, and I ain't
a-going to have her lumbering up my place no longer."

"Where's she a-going to?" asked Stumpy.

"How do I know?--out of 'ere, anyways, and pretty soon, too. I can tell
yer."

"Pal," said the boy, after a long pause, "I charged yer a tanner too
much for that there ticker; here you are, lay hold."

And he tossed back the sixpence. The man understood quite well the
meaning of the act, and Old Sal lay undisturbed all that day.

Stumpy took his departure early. I have never seen him since; what has
become of him I know not; where he is now I know