ith such a furious kick at the
policeman's leg that that functionary grew very red in the face, and
making a grab at the offender, seized him by the collar.

"Don't hurt him, please," said Reginald. "He doesn't mean any harm."

"Tell you it's me," cried the boy, trembling in the grasp of the law,
"me and that there Medlock. My gov'nor ain't done it."

"Hush, be quiet, Love," said Reginald. "It'll do no good to make a
noise. It can't be helped. Good-bye."

The boy fairly broke down, and began to blubber piteously.

Reginald, unmanned enough as it was, had not the heart to wait longer,
and walked hurriedly to the door, followed by the policeman. This
movement once more raised the faithful Love to a final effort.

"Let 'im go, do you 'ear?" shouted he, rushing down the stairs after
them. "I'll do for yer if you don't. Oh, guv'nor, take me too, can't
yer?"

But Reginald could only steel his heart for once, and feign not to hear
the appeal.

The other policeman was waiting outside, and between his two custodians
he walked, sick at heart, and faltering in courage, longing only to get
out of the reach of the curious, critical eyes that turned on him from
every side, and beyond the sound of that pitiful whimper of the faithful
little friend as it followed him step by step to the very door of the
police-station.

At the station Mr Sniff awaited the party with a pleasant smile of
welcome.

"That's right," said he to Reginald, encouragingly; "much better to come
quietly, looks better. Look here, young fellow," he added, rather more
confidentially, "the first question you'll be asked is whether you're
guilty or not. Take my advice, and make a clean breast of it."

"I shall say not guilty, which will be the truth."

Mr Sniff, as the reader has been told, had already come to the same
conclusion. Still, it being the rule of his profession always to assume
a man to be guilty till he can prove himself innocent, he felt it was no
business of his to assist the magistrate in coming to the decision by
stating what he _thought_. All he had to do was to state what he
_knew_, and meanwhile, if the prisoner choose to simplify matters by
pleading guilty, well, why shouldn't he?

"Please yourself about that. Have you made your entries, Jones? The
van will be here directly. See you later on," added he, nodding to
Reginald.

Reginald waited there for the van like a man in a dream. People came in
and out, spoke, lau