Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/295

 fence, by the bye, never bought anything himself. He inspected whatever was brought on behalf of an occult friend; and the transaction was completed by a shabby third party in an adjoining court. But he had an amazingly keen regard for his friend's interests.

Josh put the watch into the extended hand. The fence lifted it to his face, turned it over, and started. He looked hard at Josh, and then again at the watch, and handed it hastily back, holding it gingerly by the bow. "Don' vant dot" he said; "nod me—nod 'im, I mean. No, no." He turned away, shaking his hand as though to throw off contamination. "Take id avay."

"Wot 's the matter?" Josh demanded, astonished. "Is it 'cos o' the letters on the back? You can easy send it to church, can't ye?"

A watch is "sent to church" when it is put into another case. But the fence