'You surprise me, gentlemen. It is unlike my boys--unlike all that I have ever believed of them. You will excuse me, but if this be true, I shall take it much to heart. So regular in attendance, and-- stealing pigeons, you say? Oh, be sure, sirs, I will give them a talking-to--a severe talking-to--this very morning.' The little schoolmaster went his way down the street in a flutter. Mr Pinsent stared after him abstractedly. 'That man,' said he, after a long pause, 'ought to employ some one to use his cane for him.' With this, for no apparent reason, his eye brightened suddenly. But the source of his inspiration he kept to himself. His manner was jocular as ever as he ordered his steak. On his way home he knocked at the door of the town sergeant, Thomas Trebilcock, a septuagenarian, more commonly known as Pretty Tommy. The town sergeant was out in the country, picking mushrooms; but his youngest granddaughter, who opened the door, promised to send him along to the mayor's office as soon as ever he returned. At ten o'clock, or a little later, Pretty Tommy presented himself, and found Mr Pinsent at his desk engaged in complacent study of a sheet of manuscript, to which he had just attached his signature. 'I think this will do,' said Mr Pinsent, with a twinkle, and he recited the composition aloud. Pretty Tommy, having adjusted his horn spectacles, took the paper and read it through laboriously. 'You want me to cry it through the town?' 'Certainly. You can fetch your bell, and go along with it at once.' 'Your Worship knows best, o' course.' Pretty Tommy appeared to hesitate. 'Why, what's wrong with it?' 'Nothin',' said Tommy, after a slow pause and another perusal, 'only 'tis unusual--unusual, and funny at the same time; an' that's always a risk.' He paused again for a moment, and his face brightened. 'But there!' he said, ''tis a risk you're accustomed to by this time.' Half an hour later the sound of the town sergeant's bell at the end of the street called tradesmen from their benches and housewives from their kitchens to hear the following proclamation, to which Tommy had done honour by donning his official robe (of blue, gold-laced) with a scarlet pelisse and a cocked hat. A majestic figure he made, too, standing in the middle of the roadway with spectacles on nose, and the great handbell tucked under his arm-- 'O YES! O YES! O YES! 'Take you all notice: that whereas some evil-disposed boys did last night break into the premises of Samuel Pinsent, Worshipful Mayor of this Borough, and did rob His Worship of several valuable pigeons; His Worship hereby offers a reward of Five Shillings to the parent or parents of any such boy as will hand him over, that the Mayor may have ten minutes with him in private. Amen. 'GOD SAVE THE KING!'