as the Jew, from whom I had bought
the clothes and sold my own. He narrated all that had occurred, and
swore to the clothes in the bundle left by the footpad, and to the stick
which he had sold to me. The constable then produced the money found
about my person and the diamond solitaire ring, stating my attempt to
escape when I was seized. The magistrate then asked me whether I had
anything to say in my defence, cautioning me not to commit myself.

I replied, that I was innocent; that it was true that I had sold my own
clothes, and had purchased those of the Jew, as well as the stick: that
I had been asked to hold the horse of a gentleman when sitting on a
bench opposite a public-house, and that some one had stolen my bundle
and my stick. That I had walked on towards Hounslow, and, in assisting
a fellow-creature, whom I certainly had considered as having been
attacked by others, I had merely yielded to the common feelings of
humanity--that I was seized when performing that duty, and should
willingly have accompanied them to the magistrate's, had not they
attempted to put on handcuffs, at which my feelings were roused, and I
knocked the constable down, and made my attempt to escape.

"Certainly, a very ingenious defence," observed one of the magistrates;
"pray where--!" At this moment the door opened, and in came the very
gentleman, the magistrate at Bow Street, whose horse I had held. "Good
morning, Mr Norman, you have just come in time to render us your
assistance. We have a very deep hand to deal with here, or else a very
injured person, I cannot tell which. Do us the favour to look over these
informations and the defence of the prisoner, previous to our asking him
any more questions."

The Bow Street magistrate complied, and then turned to me, but I was so
disguised with mud, that he could not recognise me. "You are the
gentleman, sir, who asked me to hold your horse," said I. "I call you to
witness, that that part of my assertion is true."

"I do now recollect that you are the person," replied he, "and you may
recollect the observation I made, relative to your hands, when you stated
that you were a poor countryman."

"I do, sir, perfectly," replied I.

"Perhaps then you will inform us by what means a diamond ring and twenty
pounds in money came into your possession?"

"Honestly, sir," replied I.

"Will you state, as you are a poor countryman, with whom you worked
last--what parish you belong to--and whom you