THE ARM OF THE LAW 137 



But when you have just caught a sea-trout 

 you are not displeased with yourself, so I added, 

 gaily : " Yes, and it is the sixth sea-trout I've 

 caught here ! " 



" Then, this is a very bad case ! " said he, 

 gravely. 



" Yes, it does seem a very bad case, indeed," 

 I agreed, proudly. 



" Will you kindly give me your name and 

 address ? " he now commanded, but still with 

 urbanity. 



So 1 spelt him the name carefully that would 

 be a help when they prepared the charge sheet ; 

 and gave him the full address. 



The sea-trout were still showing ! 



1 said : " I know ignorance is no legal excuse, 

 and, although I am a stranger to these parts and 

 only here for a few days, yet 1 am obviously in 

 the wrong. If you are empowered to sell licences, 

 and happen to have your book on you, will you 

 kindly sell me a licence on the spot ? " 



"Yes," said he, "1 can sell you a licence. 

 The cost is ten shillings for a sea-trout licence." 



" I shall be happy to pay the ten shillings on 

 the spot," said I, after the manner of Croesus. 

 And 1 placed my hand in my pocket to produce 

 the ten shillings. There 1 found twopence ! I 

 had left the pocket-book containing notes in my 

 other coat. 



Then 1 did what is so otten a help in a crisis. 

 I burst out laughing ! He was too well schooled 

 to join in the hilarity, indeed he looked the picture 



