"Clear of the locksmith's house Sim Tappertit laid aside his cautious manner and assuming in its stead that of a ruffling swaggering roving blade who would rather kill a man than otherwise and eat him too if needful made the best of his way along the darkened streets. Half pausing for an instant now and then to smite his pocket and assure himself of the safety of his master key he hurried on to Barbican and turning into one of the narrowest of the narrow streets which diverged from that centre slackened his pace and wiped his heated brow as if the termination of his walk were near at hand.."