Page:Knaves of Diamonds.pdf/78

 dirty rag, and stuffed this into the toe of a rather dilapidated Wellington boot. Then he had a wash and a change, and went for a walk down town.

On his way along Stockdale Street, he chanced to meet a well-dressed, dapper-looking little man, who nodded to him as one might do to a casual acquaintance, and said in a quick, chirpy sort of tone:

"How do, Ridley? Going strong, eh?"

"Pretty well, Mr. Mosenstein," he replied, with a quick look up and down the street. "Returns are looking up again. We've had some very pretty finds the last day or two."

"Oh, glad to hear it, even from a man who wastes his opportunities as idiotically as you do. Anything particularly choice?"

"Well, yes. Are you doing anything in second-hand boots just now, Mr. Mosenstein?"