an select. There had he learned how
a pickpocket had been seized for unlawful affection to another man's
watch; and there, while he quietly seasoned his oysters, had he, with
his characteristic acuteness, satisfied his mind by the conviction that
that arrested unfortunate was no other than Paul. Partly, therefore,
as a precaution for his own safety, that he might receive early
intelligence should Paul's defence make a change of residence expedient,
and partly (out of the friendliness of fellowship) to back his companion
with such aid as the favourable testimony of two well-dressed persons,
little known "about town," might confer, he had despatched those
celestial beings who had appeared under the mortal names of Eustace
Fitzherbert and William Howard Russell to the imperial court of Justice
Burnflat. Having thus accounted for the apparition (the disapparition
requires no commentary) of Paul's "friends," we return to Paul himself.

Despite the perils with which he was girt, our young hero fought out to
the last; but the justice was not by any means willing to displease Mr.
Brandon, and observing that an incredulous and biting sneer remained
stationary on that gentleman's lip during the whole of Paul's defence,
he could not but shape his decision according to the well-known
acuteness of the celebrated lawyer. Paul was sentenced to retire for
three months to that country-house situated at Bridewell, to which
the ungrateful functionaries of justice often banish their most active
citizens.

As soon as the sentence was passed, Brandon, whose keen eyes saw no hope
of recovering his lost treasure, declared that the rascal had perfectly
the Old Bailey cut of countenance, and that he did not doubt but,
if ever he lived to be a judge, he should also live to pass a very
different description of sentence on the offender.

So saying, he resolved to lose no more time, and very abruptly left
the office, without any other comfort than the remembrance that, at
all events, he had sent the boy to a place where, let him be ever so
innocent at present, he was certain to come out as much inclined to be
guilty as his friends could desire; joined to such moral reflection as
the tragedy of Bombastes Furioso might have afforded to himself in that
sententious and terse line,--

"Thy watch is gone,--watches are made to go."

Meanwhile Paul was conducted in state to his retreat, in company with
two other offenders,--one a middle-aged man