moment. In England,
Charmant was known as French Jack, and Roseville as Rusty Joe.

"Go back to the ball room," said Mr. Merton to Brandon, "and take your
wife with you. Mr. Sandford, you stay by the boy. I'll go for an
officer."

Brandon and his lady returned to the ball room, the latter somewhat
relieved, but mortified at the deceptions which had been practised on
her.

In a few minutes a burly member of the police, with a very thick
stick, and a very red handkerchief knotted round his neck, made his
appearance, to the astonishment and consternation of the guests, amid
whom the host and hostess alone testified no excitement or alarm.

"Sarvant, ladies and gentlemen, sarvant," said the legal functionary,
scraping his right boot, and plucking desperately at the brim of his
hat. "Don't let me interrupt yer innercent amusement--sorry to
intrude, as the bull said when he rushed into the china shop--but
business before pleasure--now then, my hearty! how are you?"

The last words were accompanied by a vigorous blow on the shoulder of
M. Auguste Charmant, who was at that moment paying his attentions to a
belle from Union Square.

"_Monsieur me parle-t-il_?" exclaimed the dandy, with well-feigned
astonishment.

"O, nix the lingo, French Jack," said the officer, "or leastways
patter Romany so's a cove can understand you. Fork over them are
dimonds--or else it will go harder with you. The boy's peached, and
the game's up--you were spotted long ago."

With a smothered curse, French Jack dived his hand into his vest
pocket and produced the stolen jewels. While this was enacting, the
count had been quietly stealing to the door, but the vigilant officer
had an eye upon his movements, and a hand upon his shoulder before he
could escape.

"Now I've got the pair of you," said the worthy man, chuckling
apoplectically in the folds of his red handkerchief. "Now, don't ride
rusty, Joe--for there's a small few of us outside with amazin' thick
sticks, that might fall on your head and hurt you, if so be you
happened to be rambustical."

"Curse the luck!" muttered the thief, as with his companion he marched
off.

It may well be imagined that the scene dispersed the party in a hurry.
They took French leave, like birds scattered by a sudden storm. Julia
was carried to bed in hysterics, accompanied by her mother. Merton and
the jeweller had disappeared, the three rogues had been taken into
custody, and only Brandon and uncle Richa