t as well abstain from action till
that hour, and that he would in the meantime confine his beat to the
close vicinity of Magenta House. A friendly arrangement grew out
of this, which for awhile was convenient to both parties, and two
policemen remained in the front of the house, and occasionally
entered the premises in search of refreshment.

After breakfast on the Thursday the fourth notice was put up:--

The public of London will be glad to learn that Brown,
Jones, and Robinson have recovered the greatest part
of their paper which was in the hands of Johnson of
Manchester. Bills to the amount of fifteen thousand
pounds are, however, still missing.

It was immediately after this that the second policeman was
considered to be essentially necessary. The whole house, including
the young men and women of the shop, were animated with an enthusiasm
which spread itself even to the light porter of the establishment.
The conduct of Johnson, and his probable fate, were discussed aloud
among those who believed in him, while they who were incredulous
communicated their want of faith to each other in whispers. Mr. Brown
was smiling, affable, and happy; and Jones arrived on the Friday
morning with a new set of torquoise studs in his shirt. Why men
and women should have come to the house for gloves, stockings, and
ribbons, because Johnson of Manchester was said to have run away, it
may be difficult to explain. But such undoubtedly was the fact, and
the sales during that week were so great, as to make it seem that
actual commercial prosperity was at hand.

"If we could only keep up the ball!" said Robinson.

"Couldn't we change it to Tomkins of Leeds next week?" suggested
Jones.

"I rather fear that the joke might be thought stale," replied
Robinson, with a good-natured smile. "There is nothing so fickle as
the taste of the public. The most popular author of the day can never
count on favour for the next six months." And he bethought himself
that, great as he was at the present moment, he also might be
eclipsed, and perhaps forgotten, before the posters which he was then
preparing had been torn down or become soiled.

On the Friday no less than four letters appeared in the daily
Jupiter, all dated from Manchester, all signed by men of the name
of Johnson, and all denying that the writer of that special letter
had had any dealings whatever with Brown, Jones, and Robinson, of
Bishopsgate Street, London. The