men of suspicious appearance; that, as he passed through the
passage, he heard them disputing about a key, and that one of
them said: "Since we've got the key, we'll go about it to-night."
This was sufficient information. Mr. Spencer, lest the landlord
should give them information of what was going forwards, took
him along with him to Bow Street.

A constable and proper assistance was sent to Mrs. Churchill's.
They stationed themselves in a back parlour which opened on
a passage leading to the butler's pantry, where the plate was
kept. A little after midnight they heard the hall door open.
Corkscrew and his accomplices went directly to the pantry, and
there Mr. Spencer and the constable immediately secured them as
they were carrying off their booty.

Mrs. Churchill and Pomfret had spent the night at the house of
an acquaintance in the same street. "Well, ma'am," said Mrs.
Pomfret, who had heard all the news in the morning, "the villains
are all safe, thank God! I was afraid to go to the window this
morning; but it was my luck to see them all go by to gaol. They
looked so shocking! I am sure I never shall forget Felix's look to
my dying day! But poor Franklin, ma'am! That boy has the best
heart in the world. I could not get him to give a second look at
them as they passed. Poor fellow! I thought he would have
dropped; and he was so modest, ma'am, when Mr. Spencer spoke
to him, and told him he had done his duty!""And did my brother
tell him what reward I intend for him?""No, ma'am; and I'm
sure Franklin thinks no more of reward than I do.""I intend,"
continued Mrs. Churchill, "to sell some of my old useless plate,
and to lay it out in an annuity for Franklin's life.""La, ma'am!"
exclaimed Mrs. Pomfret with unfeigned joy, "I'm sure you are very
good; and I'm very glad of it.""And," continued Mrs. Churchill,
"here are some tickets for the play, which I shall beg you, Pomfret,
to give him, and to take him with you."

"I am very much obliged to you, indeed, ma'am; and I'll go with
him with all my heart, and choose such plays as won't do no prejudice
to his morality. And, ma'am," continued Mrs. Pomfret, "the night
after the fire I left him my great Bible and my watch in my will;
for I never was more mistaken at the first in any boy in my born
days. But he has won me by his own deserts, and I shall from
this time forth love all the Villaintropic folks for his sake."

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