timated his desire to be carried away somewhere, though he did
not much care whither.

At last the policemen among them decided upon a course of action. They
had learned by the united testimony of Ruby and Crumb that Sir Felix
was Sir Felix. He was to be carried in a cab by one constable to
Bartholomew Hospital, who would then take his address so that he might
be produced and bound over to prosecute. Ruby should be even conducted
to the address she gave,--not half a mile from the spot on which they
now stood,--and be left there or not according to the account which
might be given of her. John Crumb must be undoubtedly locked up in the
station-house. He was the offender;--for aught that any of them yet
knew, the murderer. No one said a good word for him. He hardly said a
good word for himself, and certainly made no objection to the
treatment that had been proposed for him. But, no doubt, he was buoyed
up inwardly by the conviction that he had thoroughly thrashed his
enemy.

Thus it came to pass that the two policemen with John Crumb and Ruby
came together to Mrs Pipkin's door. Ruby was still loud with
complaints against the ruffian who had beaten her lover,--who, perhaps,
had killed her loved one. She threatened the gallows, and handcuffs,
and perpetual imprisonment, and an action for damages amidst her
lamentations. But from Mrs Hurtle the policemen did manage to learn
something of the truth. Oh yes;--the girl lived there and was--
respectable. This man whom they had arrested was respectable also, and
was the girl's proper lover. The other man who had been beaten was
undoubtedly the owner of a title; but he was not respectable, and was
only the girl's improper lover. And John Crumb's name was given. 'I'm
John Crumb of Bungay,' said he, 'and I ain't afeared of nothin' nor
nobody. And I ain't a been a drinking; no, I ain't. Mauled un'! In
course I've mauled un'. And I meaned it. That ere young woman is
engaged to be my wife.'

'No, I ain't,' shouted Ruby.

'But she is,' persisted John Crumb.

'Well then, I never will,' rejoined Ruby.

John Crumb turned upon her a look of love, and put his hand on his
heart. Whereupon the senior policeman said that he saw at a glance how
it all was, but that Mr Crumb had better come along with him just for
the present. To this arrangement the unfortunate hero from Bungay made
not the slightest objection.

'Miss Ruggles,' said Mrs Hurtle, 'if that young man doesn't conquer
you at