“Oh, I aint free from temptation—​I admit that, Charlie. Don’t you imagine I’m going for to do the sanctimonious, as you term it, because, yer see, it wouldn’t fit either on us—​not a bit on it. I am game to lift anything as comes in my way, and no gammon.”

“If you said otherwise I shouldn’t believe you.”

“In course yer wouldn’t. You might as well expect Cooney to preach morality as me.”

“Cooney!” exclaimed Peace. “Have you seen anything of him lately?”

No. 55.

A STRANGE AND UNEXPECTED MEETING.

Our hero now became seriously alarmed.

“Eh. Well, yes, I have.”

“For mercy’s sake don’t say you’ve seen anything of me. Don’t tell Cooney I’m in London; but perhaps you have already done so.”