This so took the dealer aback, that it drove away all suspicions, and he said, "No, no; your warranty will do. I'll give you the money." He was in the act of going to the gateway as he saw one of his men come into the yard, with a paper in his hand, which proved to be one of the identical hand-bills, offering a reward of twenty guineas for the very horse he had just bought. "Peter," he called out, "tell the young man just to walk that horse once more up the yard, and come you here." He showed Peter the bill, who said: "It's the very horse!" "Go you and fetch a constable; I'll keep him in play a bit until he comes." "He's a charming shaped horse, young man. I'd just a mind to ask you if you'd throw the saddle and bridle into the bargain." "Why, master told me I might sell that if I pleased, and if I sold well, that should be my perquisite." "I see 'tis a country-made saddle; but it looks pretty good. What will you have for it?" "Four guineas for both. Come, I have let you take the horse at much less than he is worth; you can afford to give me a fair price for the saddle and bridle, which are, you see, quite new." By this time Peter returned with the constable; but Margaret was joking about the saddle and bridle, and greatly rejoicing at her success, not the least conscious of the presence of the man of the law, or of the dreadful fate which awaited her. "Did you say that horse came from Ipswich, young man?" said the dealer. "I did," said she. "When did he leave Ipswich?" "Yesterday." "Did you leave with him?" "Yes, I did; I told you so." "No, you didn't; you told me you rode him from Chelmsford." "So I did; and from Ipswich too." "What was your master's name?" "Mr. John Cook," said Margaret, who now began to feel a little uneasy. "Are you sure it was not Mr. John Cobbold? Look at that hand-bill, young man." Margaret saw only her master's name, and all her fortitude forsook her; she swooned away in a moment, and would have fallen from the horse, had not the constable caught her by her jacket as she was falling; and in endeavouring to support her off the horse the jacket flew open, and to the astonishment of all around, lo, and behold, it was a woman! Margaret was taken into custody; and such a hubbub was created in the neighbourhood, that the story of a female horse-stealer was soon spread abroad, and people began to crowd into the yard. Among the multitude was a son-in-law of Mr. Cobbold's, who happened to be in town at the time, and identified both the horse and his rider. It was not long before the coachman and Mr. Spink made their appearance, and she was taken before a magistrate, and immediately committed to Newgate, until further evidence could be produced. CHAPTER XXII PREPARATION FOR TRIAL Margaret Catchpole was taken into custody; and whilst she was spending a dismal night in the dungeon, a letter was on the road to Ipswich, to inform her master of the capture of the thief.