156 MR. F ARRANGE 



' Don't you think, ma'am, they would look better if 

 you tied them up in a nice silk handkerchief ?' so con- 

 fidently, indeed, that she actually went and fetched him 

 one. 



When Mr. Wagstaff came home, it was soon discovered 

 that she had been duped ; but, strange to say, the police 

 traced and recovered the stolen property, and the thief 

 was tried and convicted. 



But if, in the pursuit of their delicate profession, these 

 experts can outwit a publican, what shall we say of 

 their robbing even a judge on the bench ? Yet this has 

 happened. When the late Alderman Cubitt (who was 

 twice Lord Mayor of London) was trying a case of 

 some importance at the Mansion House, he was not 

 quite satisfied with the evidence of a witness, and though 

 not thinking it exactly improbable, requested him to be 

 very careful. 



' For,' said his lordship, ' when I arose this morning 

 I could have sworn that I put my watch into my pocket, 

 and I have only just missed it, and now recollect that I 

 left it on my dressing- table.' 



But the witness's evidence was not to be shaken, and 

 the prisoner was convicted. On returning home, his 

 lordship was asked by the Lady Mayoress what caused 

 him to send so many messengers in such quick succes- 

 sion after his watch and chain, as but one could take it 

 to him. He then saw how his indiscretion had led to 

 the loss of his own property. If these or similar cases 

 ever met the eye of Mr. Farrance, it would have been 

 some comfort to him to find he had not been the only 

 victim of a heartless and impudent robbery in the loss of 

 his own bed. 



