At dusk, to the house of Lazarus they accordingly repaired, and were admitted by the cautious Jew.  Nancy stated why they had come, and there being, at the time, several of the confederates, as usual, in the house, they were summoned by the Jew to be witnesses to the oath being administered.  Half-a-dozen dark-looking bold men soon made their appearance, and recognised Nancy by nods of their heads.

“Who have we here, old Father Abraham?’ exclaimed a stout man, who was dressed in a buff jerkin and a pair of boots which rose above his knees.

“A good man and true,” replied Nancy, caking up the answer.

“Why, you don’t call that thing a man!” exclaimed the fierce-looking confederate with contempt.

“As good a man as ever stood in your boots,” replied Moggy in wrath.

“Indeed:  well, perhaps so, if he could only see his way when once into them,” replied the man with a loud laugh, in which he was joined by his companions.

“What can you do, my little man?” said another of a slighter build than the first, coming forward and putting his hand upon Jemmy’s head.

Now Jemmy was the best-tempered fellow in the world, but, at the same time, the very best-tempered people have limits to their forbearance, and do not like to be taken liberties with by strangers:  so felt Jemmy, who, seizing the young man firmly by the waistband of his trousers just below the hips, lifted him from the ground, and with a strength which astonished all present, threw him clean over the table, his body sweeping away both the candles, so they were all left in darkness.

“I can douse a glim anyhow,” cried Jemmy.

“That’s my darling duck,” cried Moggy, delighted with this proof of her husband’s vigour.

Some confusion was created by this manoeuvre on the part of Jemmy, but candles were reproduced, and the first man who spoke, feeling as if this victory on the part of Jemmy was a rebuke to himself, again commenced his interrogations.

“Well, my little man, you are strong in the arms, but what will you do without legs?”

“Not run away, as you have done a hundred times,” replied Jemmy, scornfully.

“Now by the God of War you shall answer for this,” replied the man, catching hold of Jemmy by the collar; but in a moment he was tripped up by Jemmy, and fell down with great violence on his back.

“Bravo, bravo!” exclaimed the rest, who took part with Jemmy.

“That’s my own little duck,” cried Moggy; “you’ve shown him what you can do, anyhow.”

The man rose, and was apparently feeling for some arms secreted about his person, when Nancy Corbett stepped forward.

“Do you dare?” cried she; “take what you have received, and be thankful, or—­” and Nancy held up her little forefinger.