“We have made a pretty muddle of this business,” said one of the constables, to his companion; “what I call a regular muddle. It’s lucky the old gentleman cooled down. I thought he meant reporting us.” “So he did at first, but he thought better of it.” “Ah! he’s haughty, but he’s a gentleman. But as to that slippery customer, how he has got clear off will, I fear, remain a mystery.” The policemen went back for the ladder, which they replaced in the yard. The night watchman remained outside of the captain’s house, near by for the constables, who, of course, informed him of all that had passed therein. The watchman was in no very good humour; he was suffering from the effects of the kick he had received from Peace while ascending the stairs. Every bone in his body ached. In addition to this he found that his right ankle was sprained――so, taken altogether, he was in no enviable plight. CHAPTER IX. PEACE RETURNS TO HIS LODGINGS.――A VIOLENT SCENE.――THE ACCUSATION. The notorious burglar whose deeds it is our purpose to chronicle during the progress of this work, succeeded, as the reader has doubtless already surmised, in getting clear off. After scaling the two walls in the rear of the captain’s house he found himself in a narrow unfrequented street, or, more properly speaking, court or alley. He proceeded at once to make as much alteration in his appearance as possible. By the aid of his handkerchief and a little water he removed the stain from his face. It has been asserted that he made use of walnut juice for the purpose of altering the hue of his skin. This is a mistake. Walnut juice is not so easily removed. The pigment he employed was a finely-ground powder mixed with beer. This, when rubbed on the surface of the skin, gave him the appearance of a mulatto; and he had only to draw on a close-fitting black wig to make the disguise complete. Peace, when representing a nigger, on the stage had, of course, to make up with burnt cork and beer, and it was this that first gave him the idea of using a brown powder in lieu of the cork to so successfully assume the appearance of a half-caste. It had, moreover, this advantage; after his nocturnal depredations were over he could wash the colouring off his face in a few seconds, and remove his wig. This done, Charles Peace was himself again. The disguise was so perfect that detection or identification was almost impossible. The stain, as we have already observed, was removed, the wig was taken off, the false arm removed, and Peace felt quite secure. He walked gaily along in an easy self-confident manner, not for a moment caring about a chance encounter with any member of the police force. The self-possession and assurance of the man surpassed all belief. He was, however, greatly chagrined at the unsuccessful nature of his raid upon the warehouse, and he could not disguise from himself that he had escaped almost by a miracle.