it to my foot I found that it was old, and worn, and irredeemably
down at heel;--that it was in fact no counterpart at all to that
other one which was to do duty as its fellow. But nevertheless I put
my foot into it, and felt that a descent to the drawing-room was now
possible.

"But yer honer will give 'em back to a poor man?" said Larry almost
crying. "The masther's mad this minute becase the dinner's not up.
Glory to God, only listhen to that!" And as he spoke a tremendous
peal rang out from some bell down stairs that had evidently been
shaken by an angry hand.

"Larry," said I--and I endeavoured to assume a look of very grave
importance as I spoke--"I look to you to assist me in this matter."

"Och--wirra sthrue then, and will you let me go? just listhen to
that," and another angry peal rang out, loud and repeated.

"If you do as I ask you," I continued, "you shall be well rewarded.
Look here; look at these boots," and I held up the shooting-shoes new
from Burlington Arcade. "They cost thirty shillings--thirty
shillings! and I will give them to you for the loan of this pair of
slippers."

"They'd be no use at all to me, yer honer; not the laist use in
life."

"You could do with them very well for to-night, and then you could
sell them. And here are ten shillings besides," and I held out half
a sovereign which the poor fellow took into his hand.