"Let me go," roared I, struggling; but he only held me the faster. I
tussled with the man until my coat and shirt were torn, but in vain; the
crowd now assembled, and I was fast. The fact was, that a pickpocket had
been exercising his vocation at the time that I was running past, and
from my haste, and loss of my hat, I was supposed to be the criminal.
The police took charge of me--I pleaded innocence in vain, and I was
dragged before the magistrate, at Marlborough Street. My appearance, the
disorder of my dress, my coat and shirt in ribbons, with no hat, were
certainly not at all in my favour, when I made my appearance, led in by
two Bow Street officers.

"Whom have we here?" inquired the magistrate.

"A pickpocket, sir," replied they.

"Ah! one of the swell mob," replied he. "Are there any witnesses?"

"Yes, sir," replied a young man, coming forward. "I was walking up Bond
Street, when I felt a tug at my pocket, and when I turned round, this
chap was running away."

"Can you swear to his person?"

There were plenty to swear that I was the person who ran away.

"Now, sir, have you anything to offer in your defence?" said the
magistrate.

"Yes, sir," replied I; "I certainly was running down the street; and it
may be, for all I know or care, that this person's pocket may have been
picked--but I did not pick it. I am a gentleman."

"All your fraternity lay claim to gentility," replied the magistrate;
"perhaps you will state why you were running down the street."

"I was running after a carriage, sir, that I might speak to the person
inside of it."

"Pray who was the person inside?"

"I do not know, sir."

"Why should you run after a person you do not know."

"It was because of his _nose_."

"His _nose_?" replied the magistrate, angrily. "Do you think to trifle
with me, sir? You shall now follow your own nose to prison. Make out his
committal."

"As you please, sir," replied I; "but still I have told you the truth;
if you will allow any one to take a note, I will soon prove my
respectability. I ask it in common justice."

"Be it so," replied the magistrate; "let him sit down within the bar
till the answer comes."

In less than an hour, my note to Major Carbonnell was answered by his
appearance in person, followed by Timothy. Carbonnell walked up to the
magistrate, while Timothy asked the officers in an angry tone, what they
had been doing to his _master_. This rather startled them, but both they