Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/254

"You have a son, I believe, sir?"

"I have."

"His presence is required at the police-office, Bow-street, immediately."

"For what purpose?"

"To give evidence in a case of robbery and assault."

"A case of robbery and assault."

"Yes, sir. He is, I believe, the only witness."

"Well, but when did it occur?"

"About three o'clock this morning, I believe, sir: I don't know the whole of the particulars, but I think that it happened about that time."

The doctor rang the bell, and desired the servant to send Tom in. As far as his fears for Ninety-nine were concerned, he felt greatly relieved; but every doubt having reference to the truth of Ninety-nine's accusation against Tom vanished.

"Now, sir," said the doctor, when Tom appeared, "you are wanted at Bow-street police-office, immediately."

"What for?" inquired Tom.

"You witnessed a robbery this morning, did you not?"

"The odly robbery I witdessed, was a robbery of reputatiod, add that reputatiod was by owd."

"But you witnessed a robbery in the street, about three o'clock this morning?"

"Who says so?" demanded Tom, fiercely. "Do you?" he added, turning to the policeman.

"I know nothing of it myself," replied the man.

"Do you kdow, Didety-dide? Has this, too, beed got up by hib?"

"I know nothing of the particulars," returned the policeman.

"All I know about the matter is this, that I was sent here to request your immediate attendance at the office."

"Oh, I'll go!" said Tom. "I see how it is. Add," he added, addressing the doctor, "I hope you'll go with be."

"I will go with you, sir."

"Do so: I wish you to do so; add if I fide that that wretch has beed trubpidg up adother charge agaidst be, I'll have the dubber off his coat, add the coat off his back. I'll write to the cobbissioders at wudce: I'll dot be thus addoyed by a fellow like that."

The doctor again rang the bell, and having ascertained that the carriage was at the door, he directed the policeman to get on the box and they started.

During their progress to Bow-street not a word was uttered by either the doctor or Tom: the doctor was anxious for silence to be preserved, and Tom felt no inclination to break it; nor, when they had arrived, did a syllable pass between them. The carriage door was opened, and they alighted in silence; and on passing through a passage heard a fellow bawling "Mr. Delolme!" The policeman then led the way into the office, and found that the case was then on—that the prosecutor had already given his evidence, and that he had then just gone out of the office to look for his witness—the magistrate having consented to wait a few minutes, in order that he might be produced. An intimation was