“‘About the same as usual, I think; my pockets are pretty well lined.’
“‘Turn them out; there is no one here to notice us.’
“‘I shouldn’t mind something to drink first,’ growled John Brown.
“‘You shall have it, my pippin. What tap’s most to your liking?’ replied Mr. Wareham.
“Brown expressed an opinion strongly in favour of beer such as is brewed by Bass on the banks of Trent, which was promptly brought him by an obsequious waiter. After quenching his thirst, he said—
“‘Now, sir, I feel better.’
“Putting his hand in his coat pocket, he produced several pieces of money, together with little scraps of paper. He had, I imagined, first of all felt the letters that passed through his hands, and if he detected the presence of gold, he raised the envelope to his mouth and bit off the corner in which the coin had fallen, afterwards placing it in his pocket. He appeared to have about twelve pounds to show as the result of his day’s work.
“Mr. Wareham examined the spoil, counted it, and having divided it equally, gave Brown one-half as his share of the plunder. Brown uttered an exclamation of discontent.
“‘What are you growling at?’ exclaimed Wareham.
“‘I ought to have the whole of it. I run the risk.’