with plenty of effrontery; "but I heerd the
money jingling like, and I went in to see."

"And very kind of you too, Mike," said the constable, jocularly. "Don't
you forget to tell that to the magistrates."

"Magistrits? What magistrits? Master arn't going to give me in
custody, I know."

"Indeed, but I am, you scoundrel," cried Uncle Josiah, wrathfully. "You
are one of the worst kind of thieves--"

"Here, take that back, master."

"Worst kind of scoundrels--dogs who bite the hand that has fed them."

"I tell yer it was him," said Mike, with a ferocious glare at Don.

"All right, Mike, you tell the magistrates that," said the constable,
"and don't forget."

"I arn't going 'fore no magistrits," grumbled Mike.

"Yes, you are," said the constable, taking a pair of handcuffs from his
pocket. "Now then, is it to be quietly?"

Mike made a furious gesture.

"Just as you like," said the constable. "Jem Wimble, I call you in the
King's name to help."

"Which I just will," cried Jem, with alacrity; and he made at Mike,
while Don felt a strange desire tingling in his veins as he longed to
help as well.

"I gives in," growled Mike. "I could chuck the whole lot on you outer
winder, but I won't. It would only make it seem as if I was guilty, and
it's not guilty, and so I tell you. Master says I took the money, and I
says it was that young Don Lavington as is the thief. Come on,
youngster. I'll talk to you when we're in the lock-up."

Don looked wildly from Mike to his uncle, whose eyes were fixed on the
constable.

"Do you charge the boy too, sir?"

Uncle Josiah was silent for some moments.

"No! Not now!"

Lindon's heart leapt at that word "_no_!" But it sank again at the
"_not now_."

"But the case is awkward, sir," said the constable. "After what this
man has said we shall be obliged to take some notice of the matter."

"'Bliged to? Course you will. Here, bring 'im along. Come on, mate.
I can tell you stories all night now about my bygones. Keep up yer
sperrits, and I daresay the magistrits 'll let you off pretty easy."

"If there is any charge made against my young clerk,"--Don winced, for
his uncle did not say, "against my nephew,"--"I will be answerable for
his appearance before the magistrates. That will be sufficient, I
presume."

"Yes, sir, I suppose that will do," said the constable.

"But I s'pose it won't," said Mike. "He's the monkey and I'm only the
cat. You've got to t