ave just come in time to render us your
assistance. We have a very deep hand to deal with here, or else a very
injured person, I cannot tell which. Do us the favour to look over
these informations and the defence of the prisoner, previous to our
asking him any more questions."

The Bow Street magistrate complied, and then turned to me, but I was so
disguised with mud, that he could not recognise me.

"You are the gentleman, sir, who asked me to hold your horse," said I.
"I call you to witness, that that part of my assertion is true."

"I do now recollect that you are the person," replied he, "and you may
recollect the observation I made, relative to your hands, when you
stated that you were a poor countryman."

"I do, sir, perfectly," replied I.

"Perhaps then you will inform us by what means a diamond-ring and twenty
pounds in money came into your possession?"

"Honestly, sir," replied I.

"Will you state, as you are a poor countryman, with whom you worked
last--what parish you belong to--and whom you can bring forward in proof
of good character?"

"I certainly shall not answer those questions," replied I: "if I chose I
might so do, and satisfactorily."

"What is your name?"

"I cannot answer that question either, sir," replied I.

"I told you yesterday that we had met before; was it not at Bow Street?"

"I am surprised at your asking a question, sir, from the bench, to
which, if I answered, the reply might affect me considerably. I am here
in a false position, and cannot well help myself. I have no friends
that I choose to call, for I should blush that they should see me in
such a state, and under such imputations."

"Your relations, young man, would certainly not be backward. Who is
your father?"

"My father!" exclaimed I, raising up my hands and eyes. "My father!
Merciful God!--if he could only see me here--see to what he has reduced
his unhappy son," and I covered my face and sobbed convulsively.

PART THREE, CHAPTER FIVE.

BY THE COMMITTING OF MAGISTERIAL MISTAKES I AM PERSONALLY AND PENALLY
COMMITTED--I PREPARE FOR MY TRIAL BY CALLING IN THE ASSISTANCE OF THE
TAILOR AND THE PERFUME--I AM RESOLVED TO DIE LIKE A GENTLEMAN.

"It is indeed a pity, a great pity," observed one of the magistrates,
"such a fine young man, and evidently, by his demeanour and language,
well brought up; but I believe," said he, turning to the others, "we
have but one course; what say you, Mr Norman?"

"I am