one Bess," asking, with sundry oaths, "What was the matter?" and
requesting something to drink. I need scarcely say that, as before, I
made no reply, but crept out of the room as gently as possible, blessing
my good fortune for having thrown into my way a weapon with the use of
which, above all others, I was best acquainted. Scarcely had I regained
the passage, before Jonson re-appeared with the keys; I showed him my
treasure (for indeed it was of no size to conceal).

"Are you mad, Sir?" said he, "or do you think that the best way to avoid
suspicion, is to walk about with a drawn sword in your hand? I would
not have Bess see you for the best diamond I ever borrowed." With these
words Job took the sword from my reluctant hand.

"Where did you get it?" said he.

I explained in a whisper, and Job, re-opening the door I had so
unceremoniously entered, laid the weapon softly on a chair that stood
within reach. The sick man, whose senses were of course rendered doubly
acute by illness, once more demanded in a fretful tone, who was there?
And Job replied, in the flash language, that Bess had sent him up to
look for her keys, which she imagined she had left there. The invalid
rejoined, by a request to Jonson to reach him a draught, and we had to
undergo a farther delay, until his petition was complied with; we then
proceeded up the passage, till we came to another flight of steps,
which led to a door: Job opened it, and we entered a room of no common
dimensions.

"This," said he, "is Bess Brimstone's sleeping apartment; whoever
goes into the passage that leads not only to Dawson's room, but to
the several other chambers occupied by such of the gang as require
particular care, must pass first through this room. You see that bell
by the bedside--I assure you it is no ordinary tintannabulum; it
communicates with every sleeping apartment in the house, and is only
rung in cases of great alarm, when every boy must look well to himself;
there are two more of this description, one in the room which we have
just left, another in the one occupied by Spider-shanks, who is our
watch-dog, and keeps his kennel below. Those steps in the common room,
which seem to lead to a cellar, conduct to his den. As we shall have
to come back through this room, you see the difficulty of smuggling
Dawson--and if the old dame rung the alarm, the whole hive would be out
in a moment."

After this speech, Job left the room, by opening a door at the oppos