career in a more elevated scene. So highly are this gentleman's
talents respected by his Majesty and the ministers, that they are,
it is reported, anxious to secure his assistance in the House of
Lords!"

When Dummie had spelt his "toilsome march" through the first of the above
extracts he turned round to the tall stranger, and, eying him with a sort
of winking significance, said,--

"So MacGrawler peaches,--blows the gaff on his pals, eh! Vel, now, I
always suspected that 'ere son of a gun! Do you know, he used to be at
the Mug many 's a day, a teaching our little Paul, and says I to Piggy
Lob, says I, 'Blow me tight, but that cove is a queer one! and if he does
not come to be scragged,' says I, 'it vill only be because he'll turn a
rusty, and scrag one of his pals!' So you sees" (here Dummie looked
round, and his voice sank into a whisper),--"so you sees, Meester Pepper,
I vas no fool there!"

Long Ned dropped his pipe, and said sourly and with a suspicious frown,
"What! you know me?"

"To be sure and sartin I does," answered little Dummie, walking to the
table where the robber sat. "Does not you know I?"

Ned regarded the interrogator with a sullen glance, which gradually
brightened into knowledge. "Ah!" said he, with the air of a Brummel,
"Mr. Bummie, or Dummie, I think, eh! Shake a paw,--I'm glad to see you.
Recollect the last time I saw you, you rather affronted me. Never mind.
I dare say you did not mean it."