might have been brawn made from some peculiarly liverish pig, or—­from one of the many homeless mongrels that roam the streets at night; a pile of noxious-looking mussels, side by side with a glistening mass of particularly yellow whelks; a round of what purported to be beef—­very fat and very underdone; some black shiny sausages, and a score or so of luridly red polonies.  A similar assortment was to be seen on the counter behind which lolled an anaemic girl, in a dirty cotton blouse, and a much soiled sky-blue skirt.

A month ago such an exhibition would have been an offence in the fastidious eyes of Messrs. Kelson and Curtis; but now it was otherwise.  Their stomachs would have refused nothing short of garbage.

“Matt!” Curtis’s hands had left off clutching at his belt and were now hanging by his side; the fingers twitching to and fro in a manner that fascinated Kelson.  “Matt!  Is there any logic in our starving?”

“None, excepting that we haven’t a cent between us!” Kelson rejoined.

“I know that,” Curtis went on slowly, “but—­I mean—­why should we starve when all this grub is within two inches of us!  It’s unreasonable—­it’s intolerable.”

“Doesn’t the smell of it satisfy you?” Kelson replied, attempting to force a smile, and failing dismally.

“D—­n the smell!” Curtis cried.  “It’s the ham I want.  I’d give my soul for a good munch at it.  And just look at that tea, too!  Don’t you see it steaming over there?  What wouldn’t I give for just one cup!  Ten minutes more and it may be too late.  The pain will come on again—­and it will be very doubtful if I shall ever get home.  I’m close on the stage when one begins to digest one’s own stomach.  Curse it!  I won’t starve any longer!  Matt! she’s in there all by herself!”

“So I’ve been thinking,” Kelson murmured, glancing uneasily up and down the street.  “Still she’s a girl, Ed!”

“That’s just it!” Curtis whispered; “it is because she is a girl.  If she were a man, in our present condition we shouldn’t stand a chance.  Come!  It’s this or dying in the gutters.  It’s our one and only chance.  Let’s go in—­have a feed—­take what we can and make a bolt for it.  If she tries to stop us we can settle her right enough.”

“Without being too rough!  There’s no need to be too rough with her, Ed.”

“I shouldn’t stick at much!” Curtis answered.  “Occasions like these don’t admit of chivalry.  Come along!  It’s the ham I’m after.”

Curtis shuffled forward as he spoke, and the next moment Kelson and he were standing in front of the counter.

The girl eyed Curtis very dubiously and it is more than likely would have refused to serve him had he been alone.  But her expression changed on looking at Kelson.  Kelson was one of those individuals who seldom fail to meet with the approval of women—­there was a something in him they liked.  Probably neither he nor they could have defined that something; but there it was, and it came in extremely handy now.