and adding something about being "her own mistress in a month."

In the mean time, Cheek and Pops proceeded to their conference with Mr. Mayor.

CHAPTER VI.

was, as

Mr. Lionel Mace, the Mayor of Pops more than ventured to predict, a patron of the arts. At the very moment he was informed of the apprehension of the two accomplices of the Bridle-road murder, he was giving audience to an actor of considerable provincial celebrity; a man who had refused forty shillings per week for second tragedy at Covent-Garden! As in these days professional self-denial is of rare occurrence, we feel ourselves bound to state the fact, when called upon to name the name of Mr. Flat. The crificing his elegant tastes to public duty, abruptly dismissed the actor on the announcement of the approach of the rival murderers. "But mind, Mr.

mayor,

sa

Flat,-mind sir, if I give you leave to act here, we must have the reglar drama-no nonsense-the real thing-five acts, and no mistake." The manager --for he was no less a dignitary-holding his hat under his arms, rubbed his hands, bowed, and said

-"Sir!" No man had a greater command of that simple monosyllable; by means of it Flat carried on his government. To complaint-congratulation -sympathy-abuse-Mr. Wentworth Flat rubbed his hands one over the other, and said, "Sir!" His utmost variety was that of gender: now and then he certainly indulged himself with a-" Madam."

"Are these the wretched men?" asked Mr. Mayor, as Pops and Cheek were led into the room. "For God's sake, my good man-I beg your pardon !—you infamous villain-don't laugh,” cried Mace, as Pops smiled and smirked like a boy newly breeched. Pops looked up at Cheek for the meaning of Mr. Mayor-and Cheek turned to that officer for the like favour.

"He's very small;" said the town-clerk in a half whisper to the mayor-" very short, indeed; why, if he committed the crime, he must have jumped to

stab him."

"My opinion exactly," said Mace, with, considering his office, more than average sagacity. For the first moment Pops seemed to feel there was some mistake; whilst Cheek, who had not the dangerous enthusiasm of his companion, was quite convinced of an existing error. Pops coughed, clenched his right hand, raised himself as he was wont upon his toes, and was about to speak. The mayor, however, noted the imprudence.

"Silence! my dear sir,-I mean, you coldblooded ruffian-say nothing. Have the kindness —I mean, attend to me. You must know, that by the indulgence of the law of England-why, Gullet -how is this? why ar'n't they handcuffed?”

"Handcuffed !" shrieked Pops, his eyes suddenly lighted like the tails of glow-worms.

"Handcuffed!" uttered Check spasmodically, blowing out his face like a foot-ball.

"Handcuffed!" repeated Mace, very sonorously. Indeed, the tones in which the word was spoken by the three persons, imparted to a contemplative ear the exact separate feeling and interest of the speaker. Pops was treble indignation-Cheek philosophical sullenness—whilst Mace spoke as an epicure deprived of a customary luxury.

Gullet, the tipstaff, essayed an excuse. "Don't talk to me, sir-don't talk to me," proceeded Mace, more intent upon venerable custom than upon syntax-"don't talk to me; I take it as a piece of personal disrespect, that I should sit here in presence of the prisoners, without being handcuffed. It's what I've not been used to, sir."

"Prisoners!” cried Pops, and his eyebrows bent more than ever did Cupid's bow bend at the bull'seye of a maiden's heart-" Prisoners!" and he looked at Cheek, and found some comfort in the plural case. "Prisoners!"

"Oblige me, gentlemen-that is, you wretched men, be attentive. Silence!" and Pops for the third time shut his mouth. "Silence-by-and-by

you will be heard. By the laws of England-oh! yes, it's all very well now, but now it's no matter," said the mayor to Gullet, interrupted by the clinking of two pair of handcuffs, the brightness of which lucidly illustrated the morality of the county: in fact, they were a sort of hand-mirrors, "to show virtue her own feature."

"But, Mr. Mayor-upon my honour-I"

"Silence, sir; silence, fellow; don't I tell you that the laws of England allow every man to be heard? Silence, I say; and therefore, hear me. In the happy country to which you belong, it is the proud prerogative of every man to refuse to criminate himself. Justice has cotton in her ears, and won't listen to self-accusation. No, gentlementhat is, no-it is a part and parcel of our sublime policy that justice should give herself as much trouble as possible, in weighing well the evidence, not allowing the prisoner to have any weight in his own case; he being liberally supposed to know nothing of the matter, and therefore, if hanged, to go out of the world laying his hand upon his heart with the consciousness that he has had no hand in the business. You are quite safe in the testimony of the witnesses; and, therefore, it is my duty as a

magistrate, to request that you will give yourselves no trouble, but leave your case to the prosecution. Now, where is the evidence ?"

“If you please, your worship," and Gullet advanced, and stroked his hair down his forehead, with as brilliant success as if his hand had been a blacking-brush-" If you please, your worship, you must take the prisoners' word for once, because they confessed to Mrs. Go, the landlady of the Silver Stag, who sent for me, who”

"Is Mrs. Go ready for examination?” asked Mr. Mayor.

Mrs. Go, playing with the sinister corner of her shawl, advanced, and said she was quite ready. "Well, Mrs. Go?" and each eye of the mayor looked an interrogative. "Well, these men con

fessed to you the murder?"

"Murder!" cried Pops, and he flung his arms about, as if in a pulpit or in a fit.

"Murder!" echoed Cheek, in as lively a tone as though he said—“ Marbles.”

"I overheard them," said Mrs. Go, mincingly"for I scorn to have paper in any of my key-holes -I overheard them talking of breaking into prison and taking off the murderer; and after that they— I mean the little man there-confessed outright that he was an artist at such things.”

"That is true," said Pops; and as he spoke, he