among the people
there?"

"Yes," he said.

"It's the boy with the bit of broken pipe in his hat who has the,
whatever it was, sir, I'm sure. I saw it all."

"I see," he said. "That's the coveter. Let this be a warning to you,
boy, never to stop in a crowd to watch these street-performers. Where
were you, when you saw it?"

"Up above there, sir. In that house."

"In Mr. Hyde's house. Do you live there?"

"Yes, sir."

"Since when? Not for long, surely?"

"No, sir. Only since yesterday. I'm Mr. Hyde's nephew."

"Ah! Indeed. And that is your room up there?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where do you come from then? You've not been in town before. What is
your father?"

"My father's dead, sir. I come from Oulton. My father was rector there."

"Ah," he said quietly. "Now give this penny to the bear-ward."

While I was giving the penny to the keeper, the strange man edged among
the lookers-on, apparently watching the bear's antics, till he was just
behind the pickpocket's accomplice. Watching his time, he seized the boy
from behind by both wrists.

"This boy's a pickpocket," he cried aloud. "Stop that other boy. He's an
accomplice." The other boy, who had just taken a purse, started to
run, letting the booty drop. A boatman who was going towards the river,
tripped him up with an oar so that he fell heavily. He lay still where
he had fallen (all the wind was knocked out of him) so that he was
easily secured. The boy who had been seized by the bearded man made no
attempt to get away. He was too firmly held. Both boys were then marched
off to the nearest constable where (after a strict search), they were
locked into a cellar till the morrow. The crowd deserted the bear-ward
when the cry of pickpockets was raised. They followed my mysterious
friend to the constable's house, hoping, no doubt, that they would be
able to crowd in to hear the constable bully the boys as he searched
them. One or two, who pretended to have missed things, managed to get
in. The bearded man told me to come in, as he said that I should be
needed as a witness. The others were driven out into the street, where,
I suppose, their monkey-minds soon found other game, a horse fallen
down, or a drunken woman in the gutter, to divert their idleness. Such
sights seem to attract a London crowd at once.

The boys were strictly searched by the constable. The booty from their
pockets was turned out upon the table.

"Now, sir," said the constable to the bearded m