condescended to reassure himself; 'but I must be very certain of my

ground, and the deuce of it is, I see no way. How unlike is life to

novels! I wouldn't have even begun this business in a novel, but what

I'd have met a dark, slouching fellow in the Oxford Road, who'd have

become my accomplice, and known all about how to do it, and probably

broken into Michael's house at night and found nothing but a waxwork

image; and then blackmailed or murdered me. But here, in real life, I

might walk the streets till I dropped dead, and none of the criminal

classes would look near me. Though, to be sure, there is always Pitman,'

he added thoughtfully.

Anxiety the Third: The Cottage at Browndean; or, The Underpaid

Accomplice. For he had an accomplice, and that accomplice was blooming

unseen in a damp cottage in Hampshire with empty pockets. What could be

done about that? He really ought to have sent him something; if it was

only a post-office order for five bob, enough to prove that he was kept

in mind, enough to keep him in hope, beer, and tobacco. 'But what

would you have?' thought Morris; and ruefully poured into his hand

a half-crown, a florin, and eightpence in small change. For a man in

Morris's position, at war with all society, and conducting, with the

hand of inexperience, a widely ramified intrigue, the sum was already a

derision. John would have to be doing; no mistake of that. 'But then,'

asked the hell-like voice, 'how long is John likely to stand it?'

Anxiety the Fourth: The Leather Business; or, The Shutters at Last: a

Tale of the City. On this head Morris had no news. He had not yet dared

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