. Here's a couple in hand."

"Faix, then we'll do it in style," cried the fellow. "Once in this
chair, yer hon'r, and I'll warrant he'll not get out so aisily as Jack
Sheppard did from the New Pris'n."

"Hold your tongue, sirrah," rejoined Shotbolt, not over-pleased by the
remark, "and mind what I tell you. Ah! what's that?" he exclaimed, as
some one brushed hastily past him. "If I hadn't just left him, I could
have sworn it was Mrs. Spurling's sooty imp, Caliban."

Having seen the chairmen concealed in the entry, Shotbolt proceeded to
Mr. Kneebone's habitation, the shutters of which were closed, and
knocked at the door. The summons was instantly answered by a shop-boy.

"Is your master at home?" inquired the jailer.

"He is," replied a portly personage, arrayed in a gorgeous yellow
brocade dressing-gown, lined with cherry-coloured satin, and having a
crimson velvet cap, surmounted by a gold tassel, on his head. "My name
is Kneebone," added the portly personage, stepping forward. "What do you
want with me?"

"A word in private," replied the other.

"Stand aside, Tom," commanded Kneebone. "Now Sir," he added, glancing
suspiciously at the applicant "your business?"

"My business is to acquaint you that Jack Sheppard has escaped, Mr.
Kneebone," returned Shotbolt.

"The deuce he has! Why, it's only a few hours since I beheld him chained
down with half a hundred weight of iron, in the strongest ward at
Newgate. It's almost incredible. Are you sure you're not misinformed,
Sir?"

"I was in the Lodge at the time," replied the jailer.

"Then, of course, you must know. Well, it's scarcely credible. When I
gave him an invitation to supper, I little thought he'd accept it. But,
egad! I believe he _will_."

"I'm convinced of it," replied Shotbolt; "and it was on that very
account I came here." And he proceeded to unfold his scheme to the
woollen-draper.

"Well, Sir," said Kneebone, when the other concluded, "I shall certainly
not oppose his capture, but, at the same time, I'll lend you no
assistance. If he keeps _his_ word, I'll keep _mine_. You must wait till
supper's over."

"As you please, Sir,--provided you don't let him off."

"That I'll engage not to do. I've another reason for supposing he'll pay
me a visit. I refused to sign a petition in his behalf to the Recorder;
not from any ill-will to him, but because it was prepared by a person
whom I particularly dislike--Captain Darrell."

"A very sufficient rea