hatever there is in the larder.
I expect company."

"Company!" echoed Rachel; "at this time of night?"

"Company, child," repeated Kneebone. "I shall want a bottle or two of
sack, and a flask of usquebaugh."

"Anything else, Sir?"

"No:--stay! you'd better not bring up any silver forks or spoons."

"Why, surely you don't think your guests would steal them," observed
Rachel, archly.

"They shan't have the opportunity," replied Kneebone. And, by way of
checking his housekeeper's familiarity, he pointed significantly to the
table.

"Who's there?" cried Rachel. "I'll see." And before she could be
prevented, she lifted up the cloth, and disclosed Shotbolt. "Oh,
Gemini!" she exclaimed. "A man!"

"At your service, my dear," replied the jailer.

"Now your curiosity's satisfied, child," continued Kneebone, "perhaps,
you'll attend to my orders."

Not a little perplexed by the mysterious object she had seen, Rachel
left the room, and, shortly afterwards returned with the materials of a
tolerably good supper;--to wit, a couple of cold fowls, a tongue, the
best part of a sirloin of beef, a jar of pickles, and two small dishes
of pastry. To these she added the wine and spirits directed, and when
all was arranged looked inquisitively at her master.

"I expect a very extraordinary person to supper, Rachel," he remarked.

"The gentleman under the table," she answered. "He _does_ seem a very
extraordinary person."

"No; another still more extraordinary."

"Indeed!--who is it?"

"Jack Sheppard."

"What! the famous housebreaker. I thought he was in Newgate."

"He's let out for a few hours," laughed Kneebone; "but he's going back
again after supper."

"Oh, dear! how I should like to see him. I'm told he's so handsome."

"I'm sorry I can't indulge you," replied her master, a little piqued. "I
shall want nothing more. You had better go to bed."

"It's no use going to bed," answered Rachel. "I shan't sleep a wink
while Jack Sheppard's in the house."

"Keep in your own room, at all events," rejoined Kneebone.

"Very well," said Rachel, with a toss of her pretty head, "very well.
I'll have a peep at him, if I die for it," she muttered, as she went
out.

Mr. Kneebone, then, sat down to await the arrival of his expected guest.
Half an hour passed, but Jack did not make his appearance. The
woollen-draper looked at his watch. It was eleven o'clock. Another long
interval elapsed. The watch was again consulted. It was no