the police are always considerate to respectable-looking prisoners, and i had no difficulty in getting the sergeant in charge of the lock-up to telegraph for me to emily, to say that i was detained by important business, which would prevent me taking her and her mother to the theatre that evening. but when i explained to him that my detention was merely temporary, and that i should be able to disprove the whole story as soon as i went before the magistrates, he winked most unpleasantly at the constable who had brought me in, and observed in a tone of vulgar sarcasm, "we have a good many gentlemen here who says the same, sir—don't we, jim? but they don't always find it so easy as they expected when they stands up afore the beak to prove their statements."

i began to reflect that even a temporary prison is far from being a pleasant place for a man to stop in.

next morning they took me up before the magistrate; and as the museum authorities of course proved a prima facie case against me, and as my solicitor advised me to reserve my defence, owing to the difficulty of getting up my witness from lichfield in reasonable time, i was duly committed for trial at the next sessions of the central criminal court.

i had often read before that people had been committed for trial, but till that moment i had no idea what a very unpleasant sensation it really is.

however, as i was a person of hitherto unblemished character, and wore a good coat made by a fashionable tailor, the magistrate decided to admit me to bail, if two sureties in five hundred pounds each were promptly forthcoming for the purpose. luckily, i had no difficulty in finding friends who believed in my story; and as i felt sure the lost wulfric would soon be found in cleaning[pg 86] the museum, i suffered perhaps a little less acutely than i might otherwise have done, owing to my profound confidence in the final triumph of the truth.

nevertheless, as the case would be fully reported next morning in all the papers, i saw at once that i must go straight off and explain the matter without delay to emily.

i will not dwell upon that painful interview. i will only say that emily behaved as i of course knew she would behave. she was horrified and indignant at the dreadful accusation; and, woman like, she was very angry with the superintendent. "he ought to have taken your word for it, naturally, harold," she cried through her tears. "but what a good thing, anyhow, that you happened to show the coin to me. i should recognize it anywhere among ten thousand."

"that's well, darling," i said, trying to kiss away her tears and cheer her up a little. "i haven't the slightest doubt that when the trial comes we shall be able triumphantly to vindicate me from this terrible, groundless accusation."