Possibly you yourself or some of your friends know the Inside of a cell already." • ,• _ Well, sometimes brag is a good dog, but only if it is not brag, solely, purely, and simply, but has something stronger behind. ••■ , Telegraphic winks, nods, and signs passed between Dicky and his con federates, and he caved In. '. "Pay the gentleman the money, h cried to a man with a leather bag on his shoulder; aud forthwith I took, counted carefully, and pocketed my lawful dues. "And now, Mr Dawkins," I said, "as you have made mc too late for my own dinner, I will accept your kind offer of hqspitallty," and I took a chair and seated myeelf; and though the company was rather silent at first, as the hock and champagne went round they gradually thawed. ■ ■ " Are you really a beak 1" whispered my right-hand neighbour. *♦ Really," I replied. *'I got-two years last time," he eald, sadly. "If ever I get In trouble and come before you, draw it mild, you know. There's more than one ohap here would have knifed you as soon as look at you; and how the devil you made Dicky cave in beats mc hollow 1 so bless your stars, ajid don't forget mc." ~...- ----"My dear friend," 1 said, " a Govern ment that does not duly appreciate the wonderful genius of the jgmil unpaid, strictly limits our powers. Only in quarter sessions, as one of many, can I bestow on you the wholesome dose of two years im prisonment. But In petty sessions we can still inflict six months, with hard labour; and in spice of this excellent dinner, for which I am really obliged, I can only advise you, Don't try on any of your little games in my neighbourhood." ' I much enjoyed my dinner, which was moat excellent; the wines were unexcep tionable; but when bowls of punch were brought in with the walnuts, I beat a somewhat hasty retreat, fearing that as Dutch courage arose in the gang, they would set on mc and atrip mc of my precious ten guineas, which I haa won simply by having "a bit of the devil in mc. 