“For a sheep-skin they gave sevenpence.
“For an ox or cow-hide half-a-crown.
“For a shepherd’s dog fifteen pence.
“When they had dealings with any one not belonging to the gang, they made it a rule to pay down half the price agreed upon.
“For the other half the poor dupe had to wait for ever.
“However, by way of compensation, these worthies occasionally treated their customers with some highly flavoured dishes.
“They were ‘knackers,’ and this was a convenient way of disposing of the flesh of cow or horse, cooked in the vast cauldrons in the subterranean passage.
“At numerous other places ‘fences’ were established under the guise of innkeepers and other legitimate callings.
“Launay of Pithiviers amused his leisure hours by rubbing copper money with quicksilver, to make it pass for silver coin.
“One of the most useful fences to the gang was Peter Mongendre, vine-dresser and apple merchant.