“All right, so much the better; nothing like education. Your friends say you are to try your luck at cadging in the country, where people’s green and food’s cheap. Take this paper and chalk up on the post of every door you go to one of these marks, according to the character of the people you meet with there; that will act as a clue to any brother cadger who may chance to come after you as to what treatment they are likely to expect.”
The paper contained a series of marks or signs, which are known only to cadgers.
The boy took the paper and thrust it into his pocket.
The man at the table then gave him several recipes for disfiguring his body so as to present the appearance of burns or scalds, together with other accidents, all of which he laid down to his young pupil in a most systematic business-like manner.
Alf Purvis was astonished at these mysterious proceedings, but he remained silent.
A man now came up to the table and said to the Smoucher—
“What do you charge for a petition?”
“Eighteen pence,” was the answer.
“Well, then, let’s have one.”
The Smoucher placed two ink bottles before him—they were filled with ink of two different shades. He then spread a bit of paper under his hand and began writing.