I thought him of very singular appearance, and, from what I saw at first sight, I had reason to believe that he was a one-armed man; but that appearance was only the result of one of his tricks and deceptions.
When I went in he said to the landlady, “Is this your daughter?”
I was not living with my sister then. I had left home, and had not spoken to any of my family for a long time.
In answer to Peace’s question, my landlady, after some hesitation, gave an affirmative reply.
Some conversation in subdued tones then took place between Peace and my landlady. I ought to have said that this occurred in a house in a district known as “The Marsh,” at Nottingham—a very low neighbourhood indeed. Peace had brought my landlady some boxes of cigars for sale.
She said to him, in reference to myself, “You can speak before her; she won’t say anything.”
Peace then asked her if she would go and see if she could sell the cigars.
This woman, who is since dead, was an accomplice of his, and used to assist him in the disposal of stolen property. Her name was Adamson.
She thereupon went out and sold them, and when she returned gave him 18s., of which sum he returned her 6s. by way of commission.
After that he became a constant visitor, and we always spoke of him as the one-armed old man. He not unfrequently had there his breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper, and at last it became known to me what his real character was.