loik gin. It waarms the cockles o' yer 'art, it do," said
Kenneth.

"Goin' far?" inquired the policeman.

"To Wreckumoft."

"You seems to have got on yer Sunday trousers?" observed the policeman.

"Wall, there an't no sin in that," replied the supposed labourer,
somewhat sharply.

"Certainly not," said the policeman. "It's a fine night, an't it?"

"It _is_ a foine night," responded the labourer, putting his head out of
the window.

"Yes, a very fine night," repeated the policeman, also thrusting his
head out at the same window, and holding a _sotto voce_ conversation
with Kenneth, the result of which was that he became very merry and
confidential, and was particularly polite to the burglars, insomuch that
they thought him one of the jolliest policemen they had ever had to do
with--and this was not the first they had had to do with by any means!

In course of time the train ran into the station at Wreckumoft, and the
occupants poured out on the platform, and took their several ways. The
three friends kept together, and observed that the policeman, after
bidding them good-bye, went away alone, as if he had urgent business on
hand, and was soon lost to view. This was a great relief to them,
because they could not feel quite at ease in his presence, and his going
off so promptly showed, (so they thought), that he had not the remotest
suspicion of their errand.

As for the country fellow in the smock-frock, they took no further
notice of him after quitting the carriage. Had they known his business
in Wreckumoft that night, they might, perchance, have bestowed upon him
very earnest attention. As it was, they went off to the Blue Boar
Tavern and ordered three Welsh rabbits and three pots of porter.

Meanwhile Kenneth took the road to Seaside Villa. On the way he had to
pass Bingley Hall, and rang the bell. The door was opened by Susan
Barepoles.

"Is Maister Gildart to hoam?"

Susan said he was, and Kenneth was delighted to find that his change of
voice and costume disguised him so completely that Susan did not
recognise him.

"I wants to see him."

Susan bade him wait in the lobby. In a few minutes Gildart came down,
and the country fellow asked to have a word with him in private!

The result of this word was that the two sallied forth immediately
after, and went towards Seaside Villa.

Here, strange to say, they found the policeman standing at the outer
gate. Kenneth accosted him as if he had e