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off he went … letter and all。  I got a cab; followed on the box;

and was so quick after him that I came into the stable…yard of the

Warwick Arms; by one gate; just as he came in by another。  I went

into the bar; where there was a young woman serving; and called for

a glass of brandy…and…water。  He came in directly; and handed her

the letter。  She casually looked at it; without saying anything;

and stuck it up behind the glass over the chimney…piece。  What was

to be done next?



'I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy…and…water

(looking pretty sharp at the letter the while); but I couldn't see

my way out of it at all。  I tried to get lodgings in the house; but

there had been a horse…fair; or something of that sort; and it was

full。  I was obliged to put up somewhere else; but I came backwards

and forwards to the bar for a couple of days; and there was the

letter always behind the glass。  At last I thought I'd write a

letter to Mr。 Pigeon myself; and see what that would do。  So I

wrote one; and posted it; but I purposely addressed it; Mr。 John

Pigeon; instead of Mr。 Thomas Pigeon; to see what THAT would do。

In the morning (a very wet morning it was) I watched the postman

down the street; and cut into the bar; just before he reached the

Warwick Arms。  In he came presently with my letter。  〃Is there a

Mr。 John Pigeon staying here?〃  〃No! … stop a bit though;〃 says the

barmaid; and she took down the letter behind the glass。  〃No;〃 says

she; 〃it's Thomas; and HE is not staying here。  Would you do me a

favour; and post this for me; as it is so wet?〃  The postman said

Yes; she folded it in another envelope; directed it; and gave it

him。  He put it in his hat; and away he went。



'I had no difficulty in finding out the direction of that letter。

It was addressed Mr。 Thomas Pigeon; Post Office; R…;

Northamptonshire; to be left till called for。  Off I started

directly for R…; I said the same at the Post Office there; as I had

said at B…; and again I waited three days before anybody came。  At

last another chap on horseback came。  〃Any letters for Mr。 Thomas

Pigeon?〃  〃Where do you come from?〃  〃New Inn; near R…。〃  He got

the letter; and away HE went at a canter。



'I made my inquiries about the New Inn; near R…; and hearing it was

a solitary sort of house; a little in the horse line; about a

couple of miles from the station; I thought I'd go and have a look

at it。  I found it what it had been described; and sauntered in; to

look about me。  The landlady was in the bar; and I was trying to

get into conversation with her; asked her how business was; and

spoke about the wet weather; and so on; when I saw; through an open

door; three men sitting by the fire in a sort of parlour; or

kitchen; and one of those men; according to the description I had

of him; was Tally…ho Thompson!



'I went and sat down among 'em; and tried to make things agreeable;

but they were very shy … wouldn't talk at all … looked at me; and

at one another; in a way quite the reverse of sociable。  I reckoned

'em up; and finding that they were all three bigger men than me;

and considering that their looks were ugly … that it was a lonely

place … railroad station two miles off … and night coming on …

thought I couldn't do better than have a drop of brandy…and…water

to keep my courage up。  So I called for my brandy…and…water; and as

I was sitting drinking it by the fire; Thompson got up and went

out。



'Now the difficulty of it was; that I wasn't sure it WAS Thompson;

because I had never set eyes on him before; and what I had wanted

was to be quite certain of him。  However; there was nothing for it

now; but to follow; and put a bold face upon it。  I found him

talking; outside in the yard; with the landlady。  It turned out

afterwards that he was wanted by a Northampton officer for

something else; and that; knowing that officer to be pock…marked

(as I am myself); he mistook me for him。  As I have observed; I

found him talking to the landlady; outside。  I put my hand upon his

shoulder … this way … and said; 〃Tally…ho Thompson; it's no use。  I

know you。  I'm an officer from London; and I take you into custody

for felony!〃  〃That be d…d!〃 says Tally…ho Thompson。



'We went back into the house; and the two friends began to cut up

rough; and their looks didn't please me at all; I assure you。  〃Let

the man go。  What are you going to do with him?〃  〃I'll tell you

what I'm going to do with him。  I'm going to take him to London to…

night; as sure as I'm alive。  I'm not alone here; whatever you may

think。  You mind your own business; and keep yourselves to

yourselves。  It'll be better for you; for I know you both very

well。〃  I'D never seen or heard of 'em in all my life; but my

bouncing cowed 'em a bit; and they kept off; while Thompson was

making ready to go。  I thought to myself; however; that they might

be coming after me on the dark road; to rescue Thompson; so I said

to the landlady; 〃What men have you got in the house; Missis?〃  〃We

haven't got no men here;〃 she says; sulkily。  〃You have got an

ostler; I suppose?〃  〃Yes; we've got an ostler。〃  〃Let me see him。〃

Presently he came; and a shaggy…headed young fellow he was。  〃Now

attend to me; young man;〃 says I; 〃I'm a Detective Officer from

London。  This man's name is Thompson。  I have taken him into

custody for felony。  I am going to take him to the railroad

station。  I call upon you in the Queen's name to assist me; and

mind you; my friend; you'll get yourself into more trouble than you

know of; if you don't!'  You never saw a person open his eyes so

wide。  〃Now; Thompson; come along!〃 says I。  But when I took out

the handcuffs; Thompson cries; 〃No!  None of that!  I won't stand

THEM!  I'll go along with you quiet; but I won't bear none of

that!〃  〃Tally…ho Thompson;〃 I said; 〃I'm willing to behave as a

man to you; if you are willing to behave as a man to me。  Give me

your word that you'll come peaceably along; and I don't want to

handcuff you。〃  〃I will;〃 says Thompson; 〃but I'll have a glass of

brandy first。〃  〃I don't care if I've another;〃 said I。  〃We'll

have two more; Missis;〃 said the friends; 〃and confound you;

Constable; you'll give your man a drop; won't you?〃  I was

agreeable to that; so we had it all round; and then my man and I

took Tally…ho Thompson safe to the railroad; and I carried him to

London that night。  He was afterwards acquitted; on account of a

defect in the evidence; and I understand he always praises me up to

the skies; and says I'm one of the best of men。'



This story coming to a termination amidst general applause;

Inspector Wield; after a little grave smoking; fixes his eye on his

host; and thus delivers himself:



'It wasn't a bad plant that of mine; on Fikey; the man accused of

forging the Sou'…Western Railway debentures … it was only t'other

day … because the reason why?  I'll tell you。



'I had information that Fikey and his brother kept a factory over

yonder there;' … indicating any region on the Surrey side of the

river … 'where he bought second…hand carriages; so after I'd tried

in vain to get hold of him by other means; I wrote him a letter in

an assumed name; saying that I'd got a horse and shay to dispose

of; and would drive down next day that he might view the lot; and

make an offer … very reasonable it was; I said … a reg'lar bargain。

Straw and me then went off to a friend of mine that's in the livery

and job business; and hired a turn…out for the day; a precious

smart turn…out it was … quite a slap…up thing!  Down we drove;

accordingly; with a friend (who's not in the Force himself); and

leaving my friend in the shay near a public…house; to take care of

the horse; we went to the factory; which was some little way off。

In the factory; there was a number of strong fellows at work; and

after reckoning 'em up; it was clear to me that it wouldn't do to

try it on there。  They were too many for us。  We must get our man

out of doors。  〃Mr。 Fikey at home?〃  〃No; he ain't。〃  〃Expected

home soon?〃  〃Why; no; not soon。〃  〃Ah!  Is his brother here?〃

〃I'M his brother。〃  〃Oh! well; this is an ill…conwenience; this is。

I wrote him a letter yesterday; saying I'd got a little turn…out to

dispose of; and I've took the trouble to bring the turn…out down a'

purpose; and now he ain't in the way。〃  〃No; he ain't in the way。

You couldn't make it convenient to call again; could you?〃  〃Why;

no; I couldn't。  I want to sell; that's the fact; and I can't put

it off。  Could you find him anywheres?〃  At first he said No; he

couldn't; and then he wasn't sure about it; and then he'd go and

try。  So at last he went up…stairs; where there was a sort of loft;

and presently down comes my man himself in his shirt…sleeves。



'〃Well;〃 he says; 〃this seems to be rayther a pressing matter of

yours。〃  〃Yes;〃 I says; 〃it IS rayther a pressing matter; and

you'll find it a bargain … dirt cheap。〃  〃I ain't in partickler

want of a bargain just now;〃 he says; 〃but where is it?〃  〃Why;〃 I

says; 〃the turn…out's just outside。  Come and look at it。〃  He

hasn't any suspicions; and away we go。  And the first thing that

happens is; that the horse runs away with my friend (who knows no

more of driving than a child) when he takes a little trot along the

road to show his paces。  You never saw such a game in your life!



'When the bolt is over; and the turn…out has come to a standstill

again; Fikey walks round and round it as grave as a judge … me too。

〃There; sir!〃 I says。  〃There's a neat thing!〃  〃It ain't a bad

style of thing;〃 he says。  〃I believe you;〃 says I。  〃And there's a

horse!〃 … for I saw him looking at it。  〃Rising eight!〃 I says;

rubbing his fore…legs。  (Bless you; there ain't a man in the world

knows less of horses than I do; but I'd heard my friend at the

Livery Stables say he was eight year old; so I says; as knowing as

possible; 〃Rising eight。〃)  〃Rising e

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