t the door.

A hasty separation took place between man and wife--to opposite ends of
the sofa; and then--

'Come in.'

'Av ye plaze, sur, it's an M.P. is waiting to see yez.'

'To see _me_! A policeman?'

'Yis, sur.'

'There must be some mistake.'

'No, sur, it's yourself; and he's waiting in the hall, beyant.'

'Well, I'll go to--No, tell him to come here.'

'Sorry to disturb you, sir,' said the M.P., with a huge brass star on
his breast, appearing with great alacrity at the waiter's elbow.
'B'lieve this is your black valise?'

'Yes, that is ours, certainly. It has Julia's--the lady's things in it.'

'Suspicious sarcumstances about that 'ere valise, sir. Telegraph come
this morning that a burglar started on the 8.45 Philadelphia train,
with a lot of stolen spoons, in a black valise.--Spoons marked
T.B.--Watched at the Ferry.--Saw the black valise.--Followed it up
here.--Took a peek inside. Sure enough, there was the spoons. Marked
T.B., too. Said it was yours. Shall have to take you in charge.'

'Take _me_ in charge!' echoed the dismayed bridegroom. 'But I assure
you, my dear sir, there is some strange mistake. It's all a mistake.'

'S'pose you'll be able to account for the spoons being in your valise,
then?'

'Why, I--I--it isn't mine. It must be somebody else's. Somebody's put
them there. It is some villanous conspiracy.'

'Hope you'll be able to tell a straighter story before the magistrate,
young man; 'cause if you don't, you stand a smart chance of being sent
up for six months.'

'Oh, Charles! this is horrid. Do send him away. Oh dear! I wish I was
home,' sobbed the little bride.

'I tell you, sir,' said the bridegroom, bristling up with indignation,
'this is all a vile plot. What would I be doing with your paltry spoons?
I was married this morning, in Fifth Avenue, and I am on my wedding
tour. I have high connections in New York. You'll repent it, sir, if you
dare to arrest me.'

'Oh, come, now,' said the incredulous official, 'I've hearn stories like
that before. This ain't the first time swindlers has traveled in
couples. Do you s'pose I don't know nothin'? 'Tan't no use; you've just
got to come along to the station-house. Might as well go peaceably,
'cause you'll have to.'

'Charles, this is perfectly dreadful! Our wedding night in the
station-house! Do send for somebody. Send for the landlord to explain
it.'

The landlord was sent for, and came; the porters were sent for, and
came;