The stairs creaked dismally as Stumpy followed his entertainer up them, while the odours rising from every nook and cranny in the place were almost suffocating.
The man led the way into a small room, foul and pestilential in its closeness.

In it lay on the floor no less than nine or ten sleeping figures, mostly juveniles, huddled together, irrespective of decency, health, or comfort.

Stumpy surveyed the scene composedly.
"Got lodgers, then," he observed.
"Yes, two on 'em--on'y penny ones, though." Just then a sound of moaning came from one corner of the room, which arrested Stumpy's attention.
"Who's that ?" he asked.
"Old Sal; she's bad, and I reckon she won't last much longer the way she's a-going on.

I shall pack her off to-day." Stumpy whistled softly; but it was evident, by the frequent glances he stole every now and then towards the corner where the sufferer lay, that he possessed a certain amount of interest in the woman described as "Old Sal." The man who appeared to be the proprietor of this one well-filled lodging-room was middle-aged, and had a hare-lip.

He had an expression half careworn, and half villainous, of which he gave Stumpy the full benefit as he inquired.
"What 'ave yer got ?" "Got, pal ?" replied Stumpy; "a ticker." "Hand it up," said the man, hurriedly.
Stumpy produced me, and the man, taking me to the candle, examined me greedily and minutely.
Then he said,-- "I shall get fifteen bob for him." "Come, now, none of your larks!" replied Stumpy, who had produced the pipe, and was endeavouring to rekindle its few remaining embers at the candle; "try ag'in." "Well, I don't see as he'll fetch seventeen-and-six, but I'll do it for _you_." "Try ag'in," coolly replied Stumpy.
The man did try again, and named a sovereign, which my master also declined.
In this manner he advanced to twenty-four shillings.
"Won't do," said Stumpy.
"Then you can take 'im off," said the man, with an oath; "he ain't worth the money." "Yas 'e is, an' a tanner more," put in Stumpy.
The man uttered a few more oaths, and again examined me.