“Nothing much to boast of—​got pinched four years ago.”

“Ah! so I heard, but you are all right now. Where do you hang out?”

“I’m married, and have settled here in my native town.”

“Ah, I see, a reformed character,” said the gipsy, making a face. “Given up the old business, I s’pose?”

“Partly.”

“Oh! Only partly?”

“Well, I should be telling a story if I said otherwise.”

“I wish you could put me up to a job; I am down below water mark.”

“Ah, for the matter of that, I dare say we shall be able to work something together. I say again, I am glad we have met. Come along with me as far as I am going. I’ve got to deliver these frames; when this has been done, we can talk over matters.”

“Right you are, Charlie; my time’s my own.”