, and you have to face the music at once, we can have you brought
into court without the least publicity, and the judge will go through
with the forms, and it'll be all over before anybody knows anything
about it. I'll see that there's no _interviewing_, and that there are no
reporters present. There'll probably be a brief announcement among the
cases in court; but there won't be anything painful. You needn't be
afraid. But what I'm anxious about now is, not to bring any influence to
bear on you. I promised my wife I wouldn't urge you, and I won't; I know
I'm a little optimistic, and if you don't see this thing exactly
_couleur de rose_, don't you do it from anything _I_ say." Pinney
apparently put great stress upon himself to get this out.

"I've looked it in the face," said Northwick.

"And your friends know you're coming back?"

"They expect me at any time. You can notify them."

Pinney drew a long, anxious breath. "Well," he said, with a sort of
desperation, "then I don't see why we don't start at once."

"Have you got your papers all right?" Northwick asked.

"Yes," said Pinney, with a blush. "But you know," he added,
respectfully, "I can't touch you till we get over the line, Mr.
Northwick."

"I understand that. Let me see your warrant."

Pinney reluctantly produced the paper, and Northwick read it carefully
over. He folded it up with a deep sigh, and took a long stiff envelope
from his breast-pocket, and handed it to Pinney, with the warrant. "Here
is the money I brought with me."

"Mr. Northwick! It isn't necessary yet! Indeed it isn't. I've every
confidence in your honor as a gentleman." Pinney's eyes glowed with joy,
and his fingers closed upon the envelope convulsively. "But if you mean
business--"

"I mean business," said Northwick. "Count it."

Pinney took the notes out and ran them over. "Forty-one thousand six
hundred and forty."

"That is right," said Northwick. "Now, another matter. Have you got
handcuffs?"

"Why, Mr. Northwick! What are you giving me?" demanded Pinney. "I'd as
soon put them on my own father."

"I want you to put them on _me_," said Northwick. "I intend to go back
as your prisoner. If I have anything to expiate"--and he seemed to
indulge a question of the fact for the last time--"I want the atonement
to begin as soon as possible. If you haven't brought those things with
you, you'd better go out to the police station and get them, while I
attend to the tickets."

"Oh,