'The peelers! Don't you 'ear 'em? Curse the light! why did it go out? If they see the purse, I'm done for!'
They groped about in the dark, but could not find it For a moment the steps halted outside the door. Then it opened, and the strong light from the policemen's bull's-eye lamps was thrown upon the crouching forms of Tom Beadle and Blade-o'-Grass.
'You're up late, Tom,' said one of the policemen.
'Yes,' said Tom doggedly, and with a pale face; 'I was jist goin' to bed.' The policeman nodded carelessly, and kept his eye upon Tom, while his comrade searched about the room.
'Got any money, Tom?'
'What's that to you?'
'Come, come; take it easy, my lad. You haven't been long out, you know.'
'And what o' that?' exclaimed Tom, beginning to gather courage, for the policeman's search was almost at an end, and nothing was found. 'You can't take me up for not bein' long out.'
'But we can for this,' said the second policeman, lifting a purse from the mantelshelf. 'Is this yours, sir?'
A man, who had been lingering by the door, came forward and looked at the purse by the light of the lamp. 'Yes, it is mine.'