ward
myself."

"Oons, is there a reward offered for Turpin's apprehension?" asked
Titus.

"No less than two hundred pounds," answered Coates, "and that's no
trifle, as you will both admit. Have you not seen the king's
proclamation, Mr. Palmer?"

"Not I," replied Jack, with affected indifference.

"Nor I," added Titus, with some appearance of curiosity; "do you happen
to have _that_ by you too?"

"I always carry it about with me," replied Coates, "that I may refer to
it in case of emergency. My father, Christopher, or Kit Coates, as he
was familiarly called, was a celebrated thief-taker. He apprehended
Spicket, and Child, and half a dozen others, and always kept their
descriptions in his pocket. I endeavor to tread in my worthy father's
footsteps. I hope to signalize myself by capturing a highwayman.
By-the-by," added he, surveying Jack more narrowly, "it occurs to me
that Turpin must be rather like you, Mr. Palmer?"

"Like me," said Jack, regarding Coates askance; "like me--how am I to
understand you, sir, eh?"

"No offence; none whatever, sir. Ah! stay, you won't object to my
comparing the description. That _can_ do no harm. Nobody would take you
for a highwayman--nobody whatever--ha! ha! Singular resemblance--he--he.
These things _do_ happen sometimes: not very often, though. But here is
Turpin's description in the _Gazette_, _June 28th_, A.D. 1737:--'_It
having been represented to the King that Richard Turpin did, on
Wednesday, the 4th of May last, rob on his Majesty's highway Vavasour
Mowbray, Esq., Major of the 2d troop of Horse Grenadiers_'--that Major
Mowbray, by-the-by, is a nephew of the late Sir Piers, and cousin of the
present baronet--'_and commit other notorious felonies and robberies
near London, his Majesty is pleased to promise his most gracious pardon
to any of his accomplices, and a reward of two hundred pounds to any
person or persons who shall discover him, so as he may be apprehended
and convicted_.'"

"Odsbodikins!" exclaimed Titus, "a noble reward! I should like to lay
hands upon Turpin," added he, slapping Palmer's shoulder: "I wish he
were in your place at this moment, Jack."

"Thank you!" replied Palmer, shifting his chair.

"'_Turpin_,'" continued Coates, "'_was born at Thacksted, in Essex; is
about thirty_'--you, sir, I believe, are about thirty?" added he,
addressing Palmer.

"Thereabouts," said Jack, bluffly. "But what has my age to do with that
of Turpin?"

"Nothing--noth