hole, their den?"

Again Mrs. Higgs signified assent.

"Well, I shall do nothing of the kind. I have done more than enough for
you already. I have offered you the means of taking yourself off and of
living like a decent creature. I have done everything you could expect,
and more. But I will not be mixed up with you and the gang you choose to
make your friends; and I will not lift a finger to save your friend the
pickpocket from the punishment he deserves."

Dudley spoke with decision, but he made no impression worth speaking of
upon his hearer. She continued to look at him with the same expression
of dull malignity; and when she spoke, it was without vehemence.

"Well," she began, leaning forward a little more and keeping her eyes
fixed upon him, "perhaps you won't have the chance of defending anybody
long. There's been a woman about here lately, making inquiries and
hunting about, and one of these fine days she may light upon something
that'll put her upon your track."

"What do you mean? Whom do you mean?"

"Why, Edward Jacobs's widow, of course. She had an idea where to look,
you see."

Dudley could not hide the fact that he was much disturbed by this
intelligence.

"Poor woman! Poor woman! Who can blame her?" said he at last, more to