"Wait an instant while I close the entrance," said Old Death: "it is a precaution I never neglect."
"Quite right," observed Tom coolly; and while he affected to be leisurely whistling a tune, he was in reality keeping a most careful watch upon his companion's movements.
Old Death pulled a thick wire which hung down from the top of the vault, and the mechanism of the clock was again set in motion, until the clock-case itself had resumed its usual station over the entrance to the vaulted subterranean.
The ensuing glossary will explain these otherwise enigmatical entries:—
_Belcher_—close striped handkerchief. _Cream fancy_—any pattern of handkerchief on a white ground. _Randlesman_—green handkerchief, with white spots. _Blue billy_—blue ground handkerchief, with white spots. _Wedge-feeders_—silver spoons. _Yack_—watch. _Dee_—pocket-book of small size. _Shallow cove_—a fellow dressed in a Guernsey jacket, and looking like a sailor. _Roll of snow_—piece of Irish linen. _Snooze-cases_—pillow-cases. _Narps_—calico shirts. _Blood-red fancy_—handkerchief all red. _Spunk fencer_—match-seller. _Green King's-man_—handkerchief of any pattern on a green ground. _Watersman_—sky-coloured handkerchief. _Yellow fancy_—yellow handkerchief, with white spots. _Yellow-man_—handkerchief all yellow. _Kicksters_—trousers. _Fan_—waistcoat. _Dummie_—pocket-book of large size. _Cat_—muff. _Shakesters' crabs_—ladies' shoes. _Cule_—reticule. _Yack and onions_—watch and seals. _Snow-dropper_—one who steals linen from hedges or drying grounds. _Mill togs_—linen shirts. _Peterman_—a robber who cuts trunks from the back of carriages. _Busy-sack_—carpet bag. _Redge yack_—gold watch. _Togs_—clothes. _Mushroom faker_—a man who goes about ostensibly to buy old umbrellas, but really to thieve. _Lily benjamin_—white upper coat. _Crocus_—an itinerant quack doctor. _Smash_—change. _Double finnips_—ten-pound notes. _Highfly_—genteel begging-letter impostor. _Redge fawney_—gold ring. _Lunan_—common woman. _Single finnip_—five-pound note.
The reader has already seen and heard enough to be fully aware that Thomas Rainford was a man of undaunted courage: nor did he now tremble when he found himself immured, as it were, in that subterranean, along with a character so full of cunning and malignity as Old Death.