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"I shall be justified, sir, by your refusal to give evidence."

"I have do evidedce to give! I have sword to speak the truth, the whole truth, add dothidg but the truth: I respect that oath, add whed I solebly declare that I kdow dothidg whatever of this robbery, the truth, the whole truth, add dothidg but the truth, is idvolved id that solebd declaratiod."

"Have a care, sir! have a care!" exclaimed the magistrate. "How long have you known the prisoner?"

"How lodg have I kdowd hib?"

"Yes, sir: that's the question. How long have you known him?"

"Well," said Tom, deliberately taking out his watch, "sobewhere about twedty bidutes."

"Come, come, sir; I'm not to be trifled with: these ingenious evasions will not do here."

"What idgedious evasiods? You asked be how lodg the prisoder had beed kdowd to be: I told you about twedty bidutes. Is there ady evasiad id that?"

"Are you not one of his associates?"

"Wud of his associates?"

"Aye! one of his associates. Come now, answer that question."

"It is albost too codtebptible to be adswered; but I'll adswer it by statidg, with all the iddigdatiod at by cobbadd, that I ab dot."

"Oh, none of your indignation, sir; it will not do here. Answer my questions plainly. You have never been in any way connected with him?"

"Dever."

"You don't know him?"

"I do dot."

"You never saw him before in your life, I dare say?"

"I dever did."

"No: I don't suppose you ever did."

At this stage of the proceedings the doctor would have interfered, with the view of expostulating with the magistrate, but that he felt that Tom would be a match for him yet.

"Is he known to the police?" resumed the magistrate, with infinite significance; and, doubtless, had Ninety-nine been there, he would have given Tom a character; but he was not, and the rest knew nothing at all of him.

"How do you get your living?" inquired his worship.

"What do you bead by by lividg?" said Tom.

"How do you support yourself?"

"Doe how. I dod't support byself at all."

"Who supports you?"

"By father."

"Oh, then you have a father, have you?"

"I have."

"Ah: and what is he?"

"A doctor of bed'cide?"

"Oh: he's a doctor, too. A respectable man, I dare say?"