With those words, the Jew, stooping down, placed the candle on anupper flight of stairs, exactly opposite to the room door.  Thisdone, he led the way into the apartment; which was destitute ofall movables save a broken arm-chair, and an old couch or sofawithout covering, which stood behind the door.  Upon this pieceof furniture, the stranger sat himself with the air of a wearyman; and the Jew, drawing up the arm-chair opposite, they satface to face.  It was not quite dark; the door was partiallyopen; and the candle outside, threw a feeble reflection on theopposite wall.

　　They conversed for some time in whispers.  Though nothing of theconversation was distinguishable beyond a few disjointed wordshere and there, a listener might easily have perceived that Faginappeared to be defending himself against some remarks of thestranger; and that the latter was in a state of considerableirritation.  They might have been talking, thus, for a quarter ofan hour or more, when Monks--by which name the Jew had designatedthe strange man several times in the course of theircolloquy--said, raising his voice a little,

　　'I tell you again, it was badly planned.  Why not have kept himhere among the rest, and made a sneaking, snivelling pickpocketof him at once?'

　　'Only hear him!' exclaimed the Jew, shrugging his shoulders.

　　'Why, do you mean to say you couldn't have done it, if you hadchosen?' demanded Monks, sternly.  'Haven't you done it, withother boys, scores of times?  If you had had patience for atwelvemonth, at most, couldn't you have got him convicted, andsent safely out of the kingdom; perhaps for life?'

　　'Whose turn would that have served, my dear?' inquired the Jewhumbly.

　　'Mine,' replied Monks.

　　'But not mine,' said the Jew, submissively.  'He might havebecome of use to me.  When there are two parties to a bargain, itis only reasonable that the interests of both should beconsulted; is it, my good friend?'

　　'What then?' demanded Monks.