of an anonymous scribe, who had not even the manners to

as he had evidently sat down with a determination to do a great

'You did well yesterday, my dear,' said Fagin. 'Beautiful! Six

shillings and ninepence halfpenny on the very first day! The

kinchin lay will be a fortune to you.'

'Don't you forget to add three pint-pots and a milk-can,' said

'No, no, my dear. The pint-pots were great strokes of genius:

but the milk-can was a perfect masterpiece.'

'Pretty well, I think, for a beginner,' remarked Mr. Bolter