divorce. She might have them all if she pleased, but she should
have no more money; that was certain. Then she would have a fit of
hysterics. So she did, and lay the whole of the day on the sofa,
expecting Mr T would pick her up. But the idea never came into Mr T's
head. He went to bed; and feeling restless, he rose very early, and saw
from his window a cart drive up to the wall, and the parties who came
with it leap over and enter the house, and return carrying to it two
large hampers. He snatched up one of his harpoons, walked out the other
way, and arrived at the cart just as the hampers had been put in, and
they were about to drive off; challenged them, and instead of being
answered, the horse was flogged, and he nearly run over. He then let
fly his harpoon into the horse, which dropped, and pitched out the two
men on their heads insensible; secured them, called to the lodge for
assistance, sent for constables, and gave them in charge. They proved
to be hampers forwarded by Mr Mortimer, who had been in the habit of so
doing for some time. These hampers contained his best wine, and various
other articles, which also proved that Mr Mortimer must have had false
keys. Leaving the culprits and property in charge of two constables,
Mr T returned to the house in company with the third constable; the
door was opened by Mr Mortimer, who followed him into his study, told
him he should leave the house directly, had always lived with
_gentlemen_ before, and requested that he might have what was due to
him. Mr T thought the request but reasonable, and therefore gave him
in charge of the constable. Mr Snobbs, rather confounded at such
ungentlemanly behaviour, was, with the others, marched off to Bow
Street. Mr T sends for the other two servants in livery, and assures
them that he has no longer any occasion for their services, having the
excessive vulgar idea that this peculation must have been known to them.
Pays them their wages, requests they will take off their liveries, and
leave the house. Both willing. _They_ also had always lived with
_gentlemen_ before. Mr T takes the key of the butler's pantry, that
the plate may not consider him too vulgar to remain in the house, and
then walks to the stables. Horses neigh, as if to say they are all
ready for their breakfasts; but the door locked. Hails the coachman, no
answer. Returning from the stables, perceives coachee, rather dusty,
coming in at the lodge gate; re