and police methods with
dull resignation.

He did not, however, realise the full horror of the catastrophe that
had befallen him until five minutes after leaving the court, when he
encountered a newsvendor displaying a placard of _The Evening Mail_
bearing the words:

PROFESSOR CONTI'S GREAT HYPNOTIC FEAT

CAPTURE OF AN ALLEGED BURGLAR

He then saw that he had lost his reputation, his belief in his own
powers, his living, and about fifty pounds' worth of property.

When he reached his flat late in the afternoon, he was astonished to
find awaiting him a small packet that had come by post, which contained
the whole of the missing property, even down to the small change, also
the two duplicate keys that Bindle had caused to be fashioned.

"I'm a bloomin' poor burglar," Bindle had assured himself cheerfully as
he dropped the parcel containing the proceeds of his "burglary" into a
pillar-box, "a-returnin' the swag by post. I got to be careful wot
sort o' little jokes I goes in for in future."

IV

That evening Joseph Bindle sat at home in his favourite chair reading
with great relish _The Evening Post's_ account of THE GREAT HYPNOTIC
FIASCO. Being at bitter enmity with _The Evening Mail_, the _Post_ had
given full rein to its sense of the ludicrous.

Puffing contentedly at a twopenny cigar, Bindle enjoyed to the full the
story so ably presented; but nothing gave him so much pleasure as the
magistrate's closing words. He read them for the fourth time:

"Professor Conti sought advertisement; he has got it. Unfortunately
for him, he met a man cleverer than himself, one who is something of a
humorist." Bindle smiled appreciatively. "The conduct of the police
in this case is reprehensible to a degree, and they owe it to the
public to bring the real culprit to justice."

With great deliberation Bindle removed his cigar from his mouth, placed
the forefinger of his right hand to the side of his nose, and winked.

"Seem to be pleased with yourself," commented Mrs. Bindle acidly, as
she banged a plate upon the table. To her, emphasis was the essence of
existence.

"You've 'it it, Mrs. B., I _am_ pleased wi' meself," Bindle replied.
He felt impervious to any negative influence.

"What's happened, may I ask?"

"A lot o' things 'ave 'appened, an' a lot of things will go on
'appenin' as long as your ole man can take an 'int. You're a wonderful
woman, Mrs. B., more wonderful than yer know; but yer must g