Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/452

"Why were you so violent, Judkins?" said Sylvester. "Why did you not at once explain who you were?"

"I didn't suppose it to be necessary at first, and when I would have done so they wouldn't let me."

"There was, I dare say, unnecessary violence on both sides; but when you found that appearances were against you, you ought to have been calm."

"I couldn't, sir, after he'd called me a convict."

"He certainly was justified in supposing that you had escaped from custody."

"To be sure I was, sir," exclaimed the constable; "and, as such, it was my bounden duty to take him."

"I don't dispute that; but I think that you might have come with him to the Grange, instead of thrusting him into a place of confinement. He is our servant: and I have an affliction which renders it necessary for him to sleep in my room. I am, unfortunately, in the habit of walking in my sleep, and in order to prevent this, I am secured to him by these manacles. Last night, it appears, I, by some means, managed to get away from him, and when he missed me—"

"I heard that you'd gone on to Holler," said Judkins.

"He heard that I had gone on towards Holworth—ran after me—rushed into the Bell to ascertain if I was there—and there you saw him. I presume that you are now quite satisfied."

"Can you unlock them there handcuffs, sir?"

"Yes," replied Sylvester: "here is the key. You will find that that will unlock them both."

"Well," said the constable, having found this to be correct, "as I've had him in custody, I ought, sir, by good rights, to take him before a magistrate."

"There cannot, surely, be the slightest necessity for that."

"I don't know, sir, whether I am justified in letting him go without."

"Nonsense," said the reverend gentleman, "nonsense: I'll be responsible for him, and that's sufficient."

"Well, sir, so long as I'm held harmless, sir, that's all I want. I'm satisfied myself."

"Very well then," said Sylvester, "take those things off."

The constable did so at once, and when Sylvester had privately placed in his hand a sovereign, he bowed and left the house.

"Now Judkins," said Sylvester, "how came you to let me leave the room last night?"

"I'll tell, sir: I'll tell you exact how it was. I hid the key up as you told me. Well, a little after eleven you woke me up, and said to me, 'Judkins, just give me the key.' You spoke just as you speak now, and I thought, in course, that you was awake. I didn't dream of your being asleep. Well, sir, you got up and dressed yourself, and went out of the room, and it wasn't until I heard you open the front door, that the idea struck me. I then became alarmed, and got up and whipped on my things, and went out, and as I heard, when I got in the road, that you,