knowing and almost demoniacal grin. "Who wouldn't go to the
'Finish'? Who had the piece of plate presented to him filled with
sovereigns? And you deserved it, my dear boy--you deserved it.
They said it was only halfpence, but I know better!" and here Tom
went off in a cough.

"I say, Tom," cried Walker, inspired with a sudden thought, "you,
who know everything, and are a theatrical man, did you ever know a
Miss Delancy, an actress?"

"At 'Sadler's Wells' in '16? Of course I did. Real name was Budge.
Lord Slapper admired her very much, my dear boy. She married a man
by the name of Crump, his Lordship's black footman, and brought him
five thousand pounds; and they keep the 'Bootjack' public-house in
Bunker's Buildings, and they've got fourteen children. Is one of
them handsome, eh, you sly rogue--and is it that which you will give
five pounds to know? God bless you, my dear dear boy. Jones, my
dear friend, how are you?"

And now, seizing on Jones, Tom Dale left Mr. Walker alone, and
proceeded to pour into Mr. Jones's ear an account of the individual
whom he had just quitted; how he was the best fellow in the world,
and Jones KNEW it; how he was in a fine way of making his fortune;
how he had been in the Fleet many times, and how he was at this
moment employed in looking out for a young lady of whom a certain
great marquess (whom Jones knew very well, too) had expressed an
admiration.

But for these observations, which he did not hear, Captain Walker,
it may be pronounced, did not care. His eyes brightened up, he