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under various pretences of living by their labour； subsisted chiefly
on plunder and crime。 It was a collection of mere hovels—some；
hastily built with loose bricks； others； of old worm…eaten ship…
timber jumbled together without any attempt at order or
arrangement； and planted； for the most part； within a few feet of
the river’s bank。 A few leaky boats drawn up on the mud； and
made fast to the dwarf wall which skirted it； and here and there an
oar or coil of rope； appeared； at first； to indicate that the
inhabitants of these miserable cottages pursued some avocation
on the river； but a glance at the shattered and useless condition of
the articles thus displayed； would have led a passer…by； without
much difficulty； to the conjecture that they were disposed there；
rather for the preservation of appearances； than with any view of
their being actually employed。
In the heart of this cluster of huts； and skirting the river； which
its upper storey overhung； stood a large building； formerly used as
a manufactory of some kind。 It had； in its day； probably furnished
employment to the inhabitants of the surrounding tenements。 But
it had long since gone to ruin。 The rat； the worm； and the action of
the damp； had weakened and rotted the piles on which it stood；
and a considerable portion of the building had already sunk down
into the water； while the remainder； tottering and bending over
the dark stream； seemed to wait a favourable opportunity of
following its old companion； and involving itself in the same fate。
It was before this ruinous building that the worthy couple
paused； as the first peal of distant thunder reverberated in the air；
and the rain commenced pouring violently down。
“The place should be somewhere here；” said Bumble；
consulting a scrap of paper he held in his hand。
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“Hollo； there！” cried a voice from above。
Following the sound； Mr。 Bumble raised his head； and descried
a man looking out of a door； breast…high； on the second storey。
“Stand still a minute；” cried the voice； “I’ll be with you directly。”
With which the head disappeared； and the door closed。
“Is that the man？” asked Mr。 Bumble’s good lady。
Mr。 Bumble nodded in the affirmative。
“Then； mind what I told you；” said the matron； “and be careful
to say as little as you can； or you’ll betray us at once。”
Mr。 Bumble； who had eyed the building with very rueful looks；
was apparently about to express some doubts relative to the
advisability of proceeding any further with the enterprise just
then； when he was prevented by the appearance of Monks； who
opened a small door； near which they stood； and beckoned them
inwards。
“Come in！” he cried impatiently； stamping his foot upon the
ground。 “Don’t keep me here！”
The woman； who had hesitated at first； walked boldly in；
without any other invitation。 Mr。 Bumble； who was ashamed or
afraid to lay behind； followed； obviously very ill at ease and with
scarcely any of that remarkable dignity which was usually his chief
characteristic。
“What the devil made you stand lingering there； in the wet？”
said Monks； turning round； and addressing Bumble； after he had
bolted the door behind them。
“We—we were only cooling ourselves；” stammered Bumble；
looking apprehensively about him。
“Cooling yourselves！” retorted Monks。 “Not all the rain that
ever fell； or ever will fall； will put as much of hell’s fire out； as a
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man can carry about with him。 You won’t cool yourself so easily；
don’t think it！”
With this agreeable speech； Monks turned short upon the
matron； and bent his gaze upon her； till even she； who was not
easily cowed； was fain to withdraw her eyes； and turn them
towards the ground。
“This is the woman； is it？” demanded Monks。
“Hem！ That is the woman；” replied Mr。 Bumble； mindful of his
wife’s caution。
“You think women never can keep secrets； I suppose？” said the
matron； interposing； and returning； as she spoke； the searching
look of Monks。
“I know they will always keep one till it’s found out；” said
Monks。
“And what may that be？” asked the matron。
“The loss of their own name；” replied Monks。 “So； by the same
rule； if a woman’s a party to a secret that might hang or transport
her； I’m not afraid of her telling it to anybody； not I！ Do you
understand； mistress？”
“No；” rejoined the matron； slightly colouring as she spoke。
“Of course you don’t！” said Monks。 “How should you？”
Bestowing something half…way between a smile and a frown
upon his two companions； and again beckoning them to follow
him； the man hastened across the apartment； which was of
considerable extent； but low in the roof。 He was preparing to
ascend a steep staircase； or rather ladder； leading to another floor
of warehouses above； when a bright flash of lightning streamed
down the aperture； and a peal of thunder followed； which shook
the crazy building to its centre。
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“Hear it！” he cried； shrinking back。 “Hear it！ Rolling and
crashing on as if it echoed through a thousand caverns where the
devils were hiding from it。 I hate the sound！” He remained silent
for a few moments； and then； removing his hands suddenly from
his face； showed； to the unspeakable discomposure of Mr。 Bumble；
that it was much distorted； and discoloured。
“These fits come over me； now and then；” said Monks；
observing his alarm； “and thunder sometimes brings them on。
Don’t mind me now； it’s all over for this once。”
Thus speaking； he led the way up the ladder； and hastily closing
the window…shutter of the room into which it led； lowered a
lantern which hung at the end of a rope and pulley passed through
one of the heavy beams in the ceiling； and which cast a dim light
upon an old table and three chairs that were placed beneath it。
“Now；” said Monks； when they had all three seated themselves；
“the sooner we come to our business； the better for all。 The
woman knows what it is； does she？”
The question was addressed to Bumble； but his wife anticipated
his reply； by intimating that she was perfectly acquainted with it。
“He is right in saying that you were with this hag the night she
died； and that she told you something—”
“About the mother of the boy you named；” replied the matron；
interrupting him。 “Yes。”
“The first question is； of what nature was her communication？”
said Monks。
“That’s the second；” observed the woman； with much
deliberation。 “The first is； what may the communication be
worth？”
“Who the devil can tell that； without knowing of what kind it
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is？” asked Monks。
“Nobody better than you； I am persuaded；” answered Mrs。
Bumble； who did not want for spirit； as her yoke…fellow could
abundantly testify。
“Humph！” said Monks significantly； and with a look of eager
inquiry；