statement of facts with about as much interest and surprise,
as an undertaker might evince if required to listen to, a cir-
cumstantial account of the last illness of a person whom he
was called in to wait upon professionally; and took Kit
into custody with a decent indifference.

"We had better," said this subordinate minister of
justice, "get to the office while there's a magistrate sitting.
I shall want you to come along with us, Mr. Brass, and
the-----" he looked at Miss Sally as if in some doubt whether
she might not be a griffin or other fabulous monster.

"The lady, eh?" said Sampson.

"Ah!" replied the constable. "Yes--the lady. Like-
wise the young man that found the property."

"Mr. Richard, sir," said Brass in a mournful voice.
"A sad necessity. But the altar of our country, sir-----"

"You'll have a hackney-coach, I suppose?" interrupted
the constable, holding Kit (whom his other captors had
released) carelessly by the arm, a little above the elbow.
"Be so good as send for one, will you?"

"But hear me speak a word," cried Kit, raising his
eyes and looking imploringly about him. "Hear me speak
a word. I am no more guilty than any one of you. Upon
my soul I am not. I a thief! Oh, Mr. Brass, you know
me better. I am sure you know me better. This is not
right of you, indeed."

"I give you my word, constable-----" said Brass. But
here the constable interposed with the constitutional
principle "words be blowed;" observing that words were
but spoonmeat for babes and sucklings, and that oaths
were the food for strong men.

"Quite true, constable," assented Brass in the same
mournful tone. "Strictly correct. I give you my oath,
constable, that down to a few minutes ago, when this fatal
discovery was made, I had such confidence in that lad,
that I'd have trusted him with--a hackney-coach, Mr.
Richard, sir; you're very slow, sir."

"Who is there that knows me," cried Kit, "that would
not trust me--that does not? ask anybody whether they
have ever doubted me; whether I have ever wronged them
of a farthing. Was I ever once dishonest when I was
poor and hungry, and is it likely I would begin now! Oh
consider what you do. How can I meet the kindest friends
that ever human creature had, with this dreadful charge
upon me!"

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