“The clerk gave a dark and bitter frown, the magistrate burst out a-laughing heartily. I laughed too; in fact, I had been doing so in my mind during the last half-hour. When the clerk saw the magistrate laugh, he was suddenly taken with a like cheerful sensation, and we all three laughed at Andrew, the constable. “‘Well,’ said the magistrate, composing himself, ‘but what has this to do with the loss of your prisoner?’ “‘Please your honour,’ said the constable, ‘before I went a-seeking the corpse I left the girl in charge of this man, who I believe is no better than he should be, and when I came back he tells me the girl had run away whilst he was a-lighting of his pipe.’ “‘How was it?’ asked the magistrate, addressing me. I gave him the same account I had given the constable, on which he first, and then the clerk, burst into a hearty fit of laughter, to the apparently sore puzzlement of the constable, who seemed to think it a subject of too grave a nature for such light entertainment. “‘What do you wish his worship to do in this case, Andrew?’ asked the clerk. “‘I wish his honour would send this here man to jail instead of the girl,’ was the reply. “‘Can we do that?’ asked the magistrate, half serious, half joking. “‘We can hold him in sureties if Andrew undertakes to prefer a bill against him at the assizes,’ was the reply in the same strain. “‘Let it be done then,’ said his worship. ‘Andrew, you will be bound in a bond of fifty pounds to prosecute this charge at the next assizes.’ “‘Please your honour’s worship, I’d rather be excused,’ said Andrew, looking alarmed. ‘Who’s to pay expenses?’ “‘I rather think the prisoner won’t pay, at any rate,’ said his worship; ‘those who prosecute will have the first chance of that.’ “‘Then I couldn’t do it,’ said the constable; ‘I’d rather not have any hand in the affair.’ “‘Is the man to be discharged then?’ asked the magistrate. “‘Yes, if your honour pleases,’ said the constable; ‘I don’t like them ’ere bonds.’ “The magistrate then asked me what I was and where I came from, and I told him I was a weaver and came from Lancashire. “He asked me where I was going to and for what purpose, and I told him I was on my way to London in expectation of getting a place. “Had I relatives in London, and what sort of a place did I expect to obtain? I said I had not any relatives in London, but I had some good friends, and I had little doubt of getting a situation under Government. [Sidenote: _DISCHARGED_] “‘Under Government,’ said he, with surprise; the clerk also elevated his eyebrows. “‘Yes, sir,’ said I, half laughing; ‘I’m going up in expectation of a Government place.’ “‘The man is _non compos_,’ said the magistrate in an undertone. “‘Very likely, sir,’ replied the clerk. “‘You are discharged, then,’ said the magistrate. ‘We can’t do anything with you unless there be an undertaking to prosecute.’