"I should be ashamed to play the sneak, and catch a fellow in this way," cried Joe, driven to exasperation. "Why couldn't you come openly, in your proper clothes--not playing the spy in the garb of a friendly civilian?" "My men are in their proper clothes,'" was the equable answer, "and you will have the honour of their escort presently. I came in because they did not know you, and I did. You might have had a host of friends around you here." "Three officers to take a single man, and he a skeleton!" retorted Nicholls, with a great show of indignation. "Ay; but you were powerful once, and ferocious too. The skeleton aspect is a recent one." "And to be took for nothing! I know naught of any bracelet." "Don't trouble yourself with inventions, Nicholls. Your friend is safe in our hands, and has made a full confession." "What friend?" asked Nicholls, too eagerly. "The lady you got to dispose of it for you." Nicholls was startled to incaution. "She hasn't split, has she?" "Every particular she knew or guessed at. Split to save herself." "Then there's no faith in woman." "There never was yet," returned Mr. Pullet. "If they are not at the top and bottom of every mischief, Joe, they are sure to be in the middle. Is this your coat?" touching it gingerly. "She's a disgrace to the female sex, she is!" raved Nicholls, disregarding the question as to his coat. "But it's a relief now I'm took: it's a weight off my mind. I was always expecting it: and I shall, at any rate, get food in the Old Bailey." "Ah," said the officer, "you were in good service as a respectable servant, Nicholls: you had better have stuck to your duties." "The temptation was so great," returned the man, who had evidently abandoned all idea of denial; and, now that he had done so, was ready to be voluble with remembrances and particulars. "Don't say anything to me. It will be used against you." "It all came of my long legs," cried Nicholls, ignoring the friendly injunction, and proceeding to enlarge on the feat he had performed. And it may as well be observed that legs so long as his are rarely seen. "I have never had a happy hour since; it's true, sir. I was second footman there, and a good place I had: and I have wished, thousands of times, that the bracelet had been at the bottom of the sea. Our folks had took a house in the neighbourhood of Ascot for the race-week; they had left me at home to take care of the kitchen-maid and another inferior or two, carrying the rest of the servants with them. I had to clean the winders before they returned, and I had druv it off till the Thursday evening, when out I got on the balqueny, intending to begin with the back drawing-room----" "What do you say you got out on?"