en addressed
the shopman, asking the lady's name. He did not know--she was a
stranger; but perhaps Mr H--, the master, did, and he went back to
answer the question. Mr H-- being at that moment busy, the man stayed
so long, that I heard the carriage drive off. Fearful of losing sight
of the lady, I took to my heels, and ran out of the shop. My sudden
flight from the counter, covered with lace, made them imagine that I had
stolen some, and they cried out, "Stop thief," as loud as they could,
springing over the counter, and pursuing me as I pursued the carriage,
which was driven at a rapid pace. A man perceiving me running, and
others, without their hats, following, with the cries of "Stop thief,"
put out his leg, and I fell on the pavement, the blood rushing in
torrents from my nose. I was seized, roughly handled, and again handed
over to the police, who carried me before the same magistrate in
Marlborough Street.

"What is this?" demanded the magistrate.

"A shoplifter, you worship."

"I am not, sir," replied I; "you know me well enough, I am Mr Newland."

"Mr Newland!" replied the magistrate, suspiciously; "this is strange, a
second time to appear before me upon such a charge."

"And just as innocent as before, sir."

"You'll excuse me, sir, but I must have my suspicions this time. Where
is the evidence?"

The people of the shop then came forward, and stated what had occurred.
"Let him be searched," said the magistrate.

I was searched, but nothing was found upon me. "Are you satisfied now,
sir?" inquired I.

"By no means. Let the people go back and look over their laces, and see
if any are missing; in the mean time I shall detain you, for it is very
easy to get rid of a small article, such as lace, when you are caught."

The men went away, and I wrote a note to Major Carbonnell, requesting
his attendance. He arrived at the same time as the shopman, and I told
him what had happened. The shopman declared that the stock was not
correct; as far as they could judge, there were two pieces of lace
missing.

"If so, I did not take them," replied I.

"Upon my honour, Mr B--," said the major, to the magistrate, "it is
very hard for a gentleman to be treated in this manner. This is the
second time that I have been sent for to vouch for his respectability."

"Very true, sir," replied the magistrate; "but allow me to ask Mr
Newland, as he calls himself, what induced him to follow a lady into the
shop?"