said he, as he entered the room; "I ain't much of
a reading cove, but I see once a book called Jessop's fables."

"AEsop's fables, I presume you mean, Chivey?"

"It's all the same. But there's a yarn about a monkey what made the cat
pull chestnuts out of the fire; and I'm jiggered if I'm going to play
the cat."

"I am not aware that anyone wishes you to do so," responded Murray, in
his blandest manner.

"Well, you are a-trying it on, at any rate."

"How so?"

"Why, supposing it's found out about our stopping these here letters?"

"Which letters, Chivey?"

"The one I've got in my pocket, and----"

"Oh, you've got one, then. Hand it over, please, Chivey."

"Not so fast, guv'nor. You jest listen to what I've got to say first?"

"I am all attention."

"Well, supposing this game was found out, who do you think would get
into trouble?"

"Why, you would, undoubtedly; and your friend the French gaoler."

"And don't you think it's worth your while to come down very handsome,
considering the risk I run."

"It does not strike me in that light; but I do think it would be a good
plan for you to get rid of the stolen letter as soon as possible; for
if any thing is found out, and the gaoler says he gave you the letters,
it is not likely that his word--the word of a man who acknowledges
himself a thief--will be taken against yours, unless the documents are
found in your possession."

"That's all very well."

"Then if it's all very well, just hand over the letter."

And Murray held out his hand.

Chivey, very reluctantly, passed over the letter, muttering as he did
so--

"Well, I'm blest if I don't think you would whistle a blackbird off the
nest while you stole the eggs."

Herbert Murray took no notice of this speech; he was too deeply
engrossed with the letter which he found read as follows--

"To Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Marseilles:

"SIR,--I have already addressed several letters to you on the
subject of the incarceration of myself and friends in the prison of
Marseilles, on a charge of counterfeit coining. I also explained
how we were led, by the artful devices of a person calling himself
Markby, to be actually in the coiner's house when the police
entered it, and, therefore, appearances are certainly against us.
To all those letters you have made no reply, which I think is
certainly hard, and not quite right, as I imagine the duty of a
British consul