James
Smithson, she said, was taller, and had a longer face, and she had not
seen him whom she had locked into the dressing-room. However, she
identified a gold and turquoise letter-weight; and the setting of a seal,
whence the stone with the crest had been extracted, both of which had
been found in the man's pocket, together with some pawnbroker's tickets,
which represented a buhl-clock and other articles from Beauchamp. She
was made to give an account of the robbery. Honor had never felt prouder
of any of her favourites than of her, while listening to the modest,
simple, but clear and circumstantial recital, and watching how much
struck the country gentlemen were by the girl who had been of late
everywhere pitied or censured.

The statement over, she was desired to answer a few questions from
Captain Morden, the chief of the constabulary force, who had come from
the county town to investigate the affair. Taking her aside, he minutely
examined her on the appearance of some of the articles mentioned in the
inventory, on the form of the shadow of the horse and cart, on the
thieves themselves, and chiefly on Smithson, and how she could be so
secure of the identity of the robber in the pea-jacket with the footman
in powder and livery.

'I can hardly tell,' said Phoebe; 'but I have no doubt in my own mind.'

'Was he like this?' asked Captain Morden, showing her a photograph.

'Certainly not.'

'Nor this?'

'No.'

'Nor this?'

'Yes, that is Smithson in plain clothes.'

'Right, Miss Fulmort. You have an eye for a likeness. These fellows
have such a turn for having their portraits done, that in these affairs
we always try if the shilling photographers have duplicates. This will
be sent to town by the next train.'

'I am not sure that I should have known it if I had not seen it before.'

'Indeed! Should you object to tell me under what circumstances?'

'At the photographer's, at the time he was at Hiltonbury,' said Phoebe.
'I went to him with one of my sisters, and we were amused by finding many
of the likenesses of our servants. Smithson and another came in to be
taken while we were there, and we afterwards saw this portrait when
calling for my sister's.'

'Another--another servant?' said the keen captain.

'Yes, one of the maids.'

'Her name, if you please.'

'Indeed,' said Phoebe, distressed, as she saw this jotted down. 'I
cannot bring suspicion and trouble on any one.'

'You will do no such