Georgiana spoke in a tone apparently so decided and calm, that the officer knew not how to reply; although in his heart he suspected her sincerity. The magistrate consulted the clerk; and, after the interchange of a few whispers, Sir Walter said, "I see no reason for detaining the prisoner: there is evidently some mistake on your part, Dykes." "Your worship," exclaimed the officer, "I know not what to think. Can the prisoner give a good account of himself? He rides into London from Richmond at six o'clock this morning; puts his horse up at an inn in the Borough; goes to a coffee-house in another street to have his breakfast, and leaves a pair of pistols for the waiter to take care of for him; then walks over to a suspicious public not a hundred miles from this court; meets there a man that me and my partners have long had our eyes on; and, when he is searched, has a large sum in gold about his person." "Do you hear what the officer says, prisoner?" inquired the magistrate. "I do, your worship," answered Tom Rain, coolly; "and I can explain it all. I come up to London on business, which requires the sum of money found upon me. I put up my horse where I think fit; and I go elsewhere to get my breakfast, because I can have it cheaper than at the inn. I was armed with pistols because I had to travel a lonely road in the dark; and I left them at the coffee-house because I did not choose to drag them about with me all day long." Mr. Dykes was about to reply, when two decently-dressed men, who had entered the court a few minutes previously, stepped forward. "Please, your worship," said the first, "I have known Mr. Rainford the last four years; and a more respectable man does not exist. He came up to London to buy a couple of horses of me; and he was to pay ready money. My name's Watkins, your worship; and I've kept livery and bait stables in Great Queen Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, for the last seventeen years." "And I, your worship," said the other person, in his turn, "can answer for Mr. Rainford. If you doubt my respectability, your worship, send one of your officers round to Compton Street, and see if the name of Bertinshaw isn't painted up in precious large letters over the best jeweller's shop——" "_And_ pawnbroker's," interrupted Mr. Dykes significantly. "Well—and pawnbroker's, too," added Bertinshaw: "I'm not ashamed of the calling." "Then you are both prepared to guarantee the prisoner's appearance at any future time?" said the magistrate. "Certainly, your worship," was the joint reply. "To answer any charge that may be brought against him?" continued Sir Walter. The response was again in the affirmative on the part of Watkins and Bertinshaw. The magistrate stated the amount of the recognizances which were to be entered into, and Tom Rain was desired to stand down from the dock.