Sam said ’e would, and arter they had ’ad another drink together the tec shifted ’is seat alongside of ’im and talked in his ear.

“If I can nab them two chaps I shall get promotion,” he ses; “and it’s a fi’-pun note to anybody that helps me.  I wish I could persuade you to.”

“’Ow’s it to be done?” ses Sam, looking at ’im.

“I want a respectable-looking seafaring man,” ses the tec, speaking very slow; “that’s you.  He goes up Tower Hill to-morrow night at nine o’clock, walking very slow and very unsteady on ’is pins, and giving my two beauties the idea that ’e is three sheets in the wind.  They come up and rob ’im, and I catch them red-’anded.  I get promotion, and you get a fiver.”

“But ’ow do you know they’ll be there?” ses Sam, staring at ’im.

Mr. Cubbins winked at ’im and tapped ’is nose.

[Illustration:  “Mr. Cubbins winked at ’im and tapped ’is nose.”]

“We ‘ave to know a good deal in our line o’ business,” he ses.

“Still,” ses Sam, “I don’t see——­”

“Narks,” says the tec; “coppers’ narks.  You’ve ’eard of them, cap’n?  Now, look ’ere.  Have you got any money?”

“I got a matter o’ twelve quid or so,” ses Sam, in a of hand way.

“The very thing,” says the tec.  “Well, to-morrow night you put that in your pocket, and be walking up Tower Hill just as the clock strikes nine.  I promise you you’ll be robbed afore two minutes past, and by two and a ’arf past I shall ’ave my hands on both of ’em.  Have all the money in one pocket, so as they can get it neat and quick, in case they get interrupted.  Better still, ’ave it in a purse; that makes it easier to bring it ’ome to ’em.”

“Wouldn’t it be enough if they stole the purse?” ses Sam.  “I should feel safer that way, too.”

Mr. Cubbins shook his ’ead, very slow and solemn.  “That wouldn’t do at all,” he ses.  “The more money they steal, the longer they’ll get; you know that, cap’n, without me telling you.  If you could put fifty quid in it would be so much the better.  And, what-ever you do, don’t make a noise.  I don’t want a lot o’ clumsy policemen interfering in my business.”

“Still, s’pose you didn’t catch ’em,” ses Sam, “where should I be?”

“You needn’t be afraid o’ that,” ses the tec, with a laugh.  “Here, I’ll tell you wot I’ll do, and that’ll show you the trust I put in you.”

He drew a big di’mond ring off of ’is finger and handed it to Sam.

“Put that on your finger,” he ses, “and keep it there till I give you your money back and the fi’-pun note reward.  It’s worth seventy quid if it’s worth a farthing, and was given to me by a lady of title for getting back ’er jewellery for ’er.  Put it on, and wotever you do, don’t lose it”

He sat and watched while Sam forced it on is finger.

“You don’t need to flash it about too much,” he ses, looking at ’im rather anxious.  “There’s men I know as ’ud cut your finger off to get that.”