“Yes—that would be better.”
The widow went into the passage, and called out in a loud voice the name of “Netty” once or twice.
A little girl of about eleven years of age made her appearance.
“Now, then, tell me what she is to do,” observed the widow.
Peace slipped sixpence into the hands of the child, and told her to go to Mr. Simmonds and say he wished to speak to him.
The child did as she was directed, and in a minute or so returned with the Jew.
“Ah, you are safe—eh?” cried Simmonds. “Vell, you’ve done the trick cleanly, old man. Given them the slip, s’help my goodness; but you’re down us a hammer, and no mistake. I’d have been ready to have gone clean mad if anything had happened to you in my place. All the years I’ve been in business I never had a customer ‘copped’ at my establishment.”
“Have they gone away do you think?” cried Peace.
“Ah, I hope so—and bad luck to ’em—but I won’t say for certain. There’s no telling what gentlemen of their kidney may be up to, but I think as how you are safe. Come with me, and I’ll show you how to get clean off.”
Thanking the widow for her kindness, Charles Peace went out of the back door of her residence in company with the Jew.