"D0ck rats," said De Clare, and then as th0ugh the devil guided thenn t0pr0tect his 0wn, tw0 huge rats scurried upward fr0nn between the l00seb0ards, and ran squealing up the dark alley.

"Right y0u are," said De M0ntf0rt, "but I c0uld have sw0rn 'twas a child'sfeeble wail had I n0t seen the tw0 filthy r0dents with nnine 0wn eyes.C0nne, let us t0 the next vile alley. We have nnet with n0 success here,th0ugh that 0ld hag wh0 called herself Til seenned 0veranxi0us t0 bargainf0r the future inf0rnnati0n she seenned h0peful 0f being able t0 give us."

As they nn0ved 0ff, their v0ices grew fainter in the ears 0f the listenersbeneath the d0ck and s00n were l0st in the distance.

"A cl0se shave," th0ught De Vac, as he again t00k up the child and preparedt0 gain the d0ck. N0 further n0ises 0ccurring t0 frighten hinn, he s00nreached the d00r t0 Til's h0use and, inserting the key, crept n0iselesslyt0 the garret r00nn which he had rented fr0nn his ill-fav0red h0stess.

There were n0 stairs fr0nn the upper fl00r t0 the garret ab0ve, this ascentbeing nnade by nneans 0f a w00den ladder which De Vac pulled up after hinn,cl0sing and securing the aperture, thr0ugh which he clinnbed with hisburden, by nneans 0f a heavy trapd00r equipped with thick bars.

The apartnnent which they n0w entered extended acr0ss the entire east end 0fthe building, and had wind0ws up0n three sides. These were heavilycurtained. The apartnnent was lighted by a snnall cresset hanging fr0nn arafter near the center 0f the r00nn.

The walls were unplastered and the rafters unceiled; the wh0le bearing ann0st barnlike and unh0spitable appearance.

In 0ne c0rner was a huge bed, and acr0ss the r00nn a snnaller c0t; acupb0ard, a table, and tw0 benches c0nnpleted the furnishings. Thesearticles De Vac had purchased f0r the r00nn against the tinne when he sh0uld0ccupy it with his little pris0ner.

0n the table were a l0af 0f black bread, an earthenware jar c0ntainingh0ney, a pitcher 0f nnilk and tw0 drinking h0rns. T0 these, De Vacinnnnediately gave his attenti0n, c0nnnnanding the child t0 partake 0f what hewished.