ess thoughtfully, and then said, "I'm sorry he's gone."

"I don't see why you should be," I said. "The ungrateful young cad! If
it hadn't been for you he might have been killed."

Jack smiled. "He doesn't think so himself," he said. "He told me I'd
no business to interfere between him and his `gal,' as he politely
styles his mother. Poor little beggar! I dare say he'll catch it all
the worse now. Hullo! I say!" exclaimed Jack, feeling in his pockets.
"I'm positive I had a shilling and two pennies in my pocket yesterday
evening. I must have been robbed in that court!"

The money had evidently gone, and what was more, I made the pleasant
discovery that a sixpence which I had in my pocket, as well as my
penknife, were both missing!

Jack and I looked at one another.

"The young thief!" I exclaimed.

"Perhaps it was done in the court," said Jack. "There was an awful
crowd, you know."

"All very well," I replied; "but, as it happens, I had my knife out
before I went to bed, to cut one of my bootlaces, and when I put it back
in my pocket I distinctly remember feeling the sixpence there. No; our
young hopeful's done this bit of business."

"I'm awfully sorry, Fred," said Jack; "it was my fault bringing him
here."

We went down to breakfast in a somewhat perturbed state of mind. Here
we found the assembled company in a state of great excitement. Mr
Horncastle, who occupied a bed in the next dormitory to that where Jack
and I slept, had missed his collar-stud, which he described as "red
coral," and complaining thereof to Mrs Nash, had been told by that lady
that Smith and Batchelor had brought a young pickpocket into the house
with them last night, and that being so, she was only surprised Mr
Horncastle had not lost all the jewellery he possessed. Whereat, of
course, Mr Horncastle was in a mighty state of wrath, and quite ready
for poor Jack and me when we appeared.

"Oh, here you are. Perhaps you'll hand me out half a sov., you two."

"What for?" demanded I.

"Never you mind, but you'd better look sharp, or I'll give you in
charge!" said Horncastle, pompously.

"You're funny this morning," said I, utterly at a loss to guess what he
was driving at.

"So will you be funny when you get transported for stealing!"

"What do you mean?" asked Smith, solemnly.

"Mean; why, I mean my collar-stud."

A general laugh interrupted the speaker at this point, which did not
tend to improve his spirits.

"