"And why did you?" said Ned.

"Because I will have no killing; it is the curse of the noble art of our
profession to have passionate professors like thee."

"Passionate!" repeated Ned. "Well, I am a little choleric, I own it;
but that is not so great a fault on the road as it would be in
housebreaking. I don't know a thing that requires so much coolness and
self-possession as cleaning out a house from top to bottom,--quietly and
civilly, mind you!"

"That is the reason, I suppose, then," said Augustus, "that you
altogether renounced that career. Your first adventure was house
breaking, I think I have heard you say. I confess it was a vulgar
debut,--not worthy of you!"

"No! Harry Cook seduced me; but the specimen I saw that night disgusted
me of picking locks; it brings one in contact with such low companions.
Only think, there was a merchant, a rag-merchant, one of the party!"

"Faugh!" said Tomlinson, in solemn disgust.

"Ay, you may well turn up your lip; I never broke into a house again."

"Who were your other companions?" asked Augustus. "Only Harry Cook,
--[A noted highwayman.]--and a very singular woman--"

Here Ned's narrative was interrupted by a dark defile through a wood,
allowing room for only one horseman at a time. They continued this
gloomy path for several minutes, until at length it brought them to the