eded to write an epistle for Mrs. Bumpkin's edification.
She had _carte blanche_ to put in what she liked, except that the main
facts were to be that Joe had gone for a horse soger; that he expected
"the case would come on every day;" and that he had the highest opinion
of the unquestioned ability of honest Lawyer Prigg.

And now another surprise awaited the patient Bumpkin. As he sat, later
in the day, smoking his pipe, in company with Mrs. Oldtimes, two men,
somewhat shabbily dressed, walked into the parlour and ordered
refreshment.

"A fine day, sir," said the elder of the two, a man about thirty-five.
This observation was addressed to Mr. Bumpkin.

"It be," said the farmer.

The other individual had seated himself near the fire, and was apparently
immersed in the study of the _Daily Telegraph_. Suddenly he observed to
his companion, as though he had never seen it before,--

"Hallo! Ned, have you seen this?"

"What's that?" asked the gentleman called Ned.

"Never read such a thing in my life. Just listen."

"'A YOUNG MAN FROM THE COUNTRY.'
"EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

"A man, apparently about sixty-eight, who gave the name of Bumpkin,
appeared as the prosecutor in a case under the following
extraordinary circumstances. He said he was from the country, but
declined to give any more particular address, and had been taken by a
friend to see the Old Bailey and to hear the trials at that Court.
After leaving the Central Criminal Court, he deposed, that, walking
with his friend, he was accosted in the Street in the open daylight
and robbed of his watch; that he pursued the thief, and when near
Blackfriars Bridge met a man coming towards him; that he seized the
supposed thief, and found him wearing the watch which he affirmed had
been stolen. The manner and appearance of 'the young man from the
country' excited great laughter in Court, and the Lord Mayor, in the
absence of any evidence to the contrary, thought there was a _prima
facie_ case under the circumstances, and committed the accused for
trial to the Central Criminal Court. The prisoner, who was
respectably dressed, and against whom nothing appeared to be known,
was most ably defended by Mr. Nimble, who declined to put any
questions in cross-examination, and did not address his Lordship.
The case created great sensation, and it is e