"Yes--my name is Markham: but what means this insolent and unpardonable intrusion?" "Intrusion indeed!" repeated the foremost of the ill-looking strangers. "However, not to keep you waiting, my young friend, I must inform you that me and this man here are officers; and we've a warrant to take you." "A warrant!" ejaculated both Richard and Whittingham at the same moment. "Come, come, now--I dare say you haven't been without your misgivings since yesterday;--but if young gen'lemen will play such pranks, why, they must expect some time or another to be wanted--that's all!" "But what have I done?" demanded Richard. "There must be some mistake. I cannot be the person whom you require." "Did you not call at a certain bankers' in the City yesterday?" demanded the officer. "Certainly--I had some money to receive, which Mr. Monroe my guardian had paid into their hands for my use." "And you changed a five hundred pound note? The clerk did it for your accommodation." "I do not deny it: I required change. But how is all this connected with your visit?" "That five hundred pound note was a forgery!" "A forgery! Impossible!" cried Richard. "A forgery!" said Whittingham: "this is really impudence of too consummating a nature!" "Come, there's no mistake, and all this gammon won't do. Me and my partner came in a hackney-coach, which stands at the corner of the lane so if you're ready, we'll be off to Bow Street at once." "I am prepared to accompany you," said Richard, "because I am well aware that I shall not be detained many minutes at the magistrate's office." "That's no business of mine," returned the principal officer: then, addressing his companion, he said, "Jem, you'll stay here and take a survey of the premises; while I get off with the prisoner. You can follow as soon as you've satisfied yourself whether there's any evidence upon the premises." It was with great difficulty that Richard over-ruled the desire of Whittingham to accompany him; but at length the faithful old man was induced to comprehend the necessity of staying behind, as an officer was about to exercise a strict search throughout the house, and Markham did not choose to leave his property to the mercy of a stranger. This point having been settled, Richard took his departure with the officer in whose custody he found himself. They entered the hackney-coach, which was waiting at a little distance, and immediately proceeded by the shortest cuts towards the chief office in Bow Street. Upon their arrival at that ominous establishment, Richard's pocket-book and purse were taken away from him; and he himself was thrust into a cell until the charge at that moment before the magistrate was disposed of. Here must we leave him for the present; as during the night which followed his arrest, scenes of a terrible nature passed elsewhere. CHAPTER XVII. A DEN OF HORRORS.