_No._ 31. Two belchers, a cream-fancy, a randlesman, and a blue billy; three wedge-feeders, a yack, and a dee. £1 15_s._
_A Stranger—looked like a shallow cove._ Roll of snow, six snooze cases, three narps, and a blood-red fancy. 8_s._
_A Stranger—looked like a spunk fencer._ Green king's-man, water's-man, yellow-fancy, and yellow-man; pair of kicksters, a fan, and a dummie. 13_s._ 6_d._
_No._ 4. A cat, six pair of shakester's crabs, and a cule. 12_s._
_No._ 53. Yack and onions. £1 12_s._ 6_d._
_A Stranger—looked like a snow-dropper._ Twelve mill-togs. 6_s._
_A Stranger—looked like a peterman._ Busy-sack, redge-yack, six wedge-feeders, and togs in busy-sack. £2 15_s._
_A Stranger—looked like a mushroom-faker._ Lily benjamin. 3_s._ 6_d._
_A Stranger—looked like a crocus._ To smash three double finnips. £12 10_s._ 6_d._
_A stranger—looked like a high-fly._ Redge-fawney. 8_s._ 6_d._
_Lunan._ To smash a single finnip. £2 2_s._ 6_d._[11]
"Quite a secret police-book, this," observed Tom Rain, after he had gained an insight into its contents.
"But do you mean to say," continued Rainford, "that these persons who are noted by means of numbers—for I can understand the meaning of all that—do not know that this is your crib?"
"Not they!" replied Bones. "I tell you that they call it _Tidmarsh's_: and I may add that not one out of one hundred who come here, even know old Tidmarsh by sight."
"And how does he recognise these fellows who are denoted by the numbers?" asked Tom Rain.
Old Death pointed to a small hole, not larger than a pea, in the wood-work which separated the two rooms; and this hole was covered with a little moveable piece of wood on the inner side—that is, in the office where Tidmarsh was accustomed to sit.
"Things begin to grow a little plainer," said Rainford. "And now, my worthy old fence, to the store-rooms and to your own special residence."
This command was significantly backed by the motion of Rainford's right hand towards the pocket where he had deposited the pistol with which he had ere now menaced his companion.
Mr. Benjamin Bones swallowed a profound sigh—for it went to his heart to think that he was compelled to yield to the coercion of one whom he had marked out for a slave, but who had become a master.
