“Well, by your own account, copteeine, your guide was none of the best. The errand, I hope, was better?”

“Neeil an suggum,” * returned the ratcatcher, “I went to run away with an heiress.”

* Paraphrased—“We’ll not say much about that.”

“Well done, captain.”

“Stop—I don’t mean myself, but my master, and ye know, that’s the same thing.”

“Who was the heiress?”

“Devil have them that knows! Any body that came in our way.”

“And did you succeed?”

“Succeed!” exclaimed the ratcatcher; “Upon my soul, only we gave leg-bail, he would have been hanged, and I left for transportation.”

“He!—who was he, Shemus?”