MY AUNT'S GREAT POLICE CASE. 233 



"Tomkins and Barker down ?" asks the last-comer of the 

 Sergeant. 



" Same as before," answers the latter, writing on a bit of 

 paper, and handing it across to the Clerk, who inspects it, 

 and observes that " It's all right." 



Then the Inspector looks at the Clerk, and remarks that 

 " Time's getting on ; " then the Sergeant closes his ledger, 

 locks it up, and putting a bunch of keys in his pocket, also 

 remarks that " It is getting late;" wherepon the Clerk, shut- 

 ting up his book, and coming out from behind his enclosure, 

 caps the other two observations by saying forcibly that " It 

 will be later afore we've done ; " at which witticism we, in 

 our character of sycophants, feel bound to smile, and do so 

 accordingly. 



The ice being thus broken, I ask, on behalf of my Aunt, 

 when our case will come on ; at least, I explain (so as not to 

 lead to future complications), " Not my case, but this lady's, 

 my Aunt's ; " this I add as if the Clerk had been m^y bosom 

 friend for years, and I were introducing my relative to him. 



"Name?" says he. I give the name. "It's down for No. 

 two on the list." 



" It'll be taken after the night cases." 



" When," ventures my Aunt, timidly, " do you think it will 

 be heard ? " 



" Ah ! can't say," returns the Clerk. " You see a message 

 has just come down about Mr. Wigginthorpe's having met 

 with an accident, and so Mr. Sharply will run up from 

 t'other Court, when he's heard the cases down there." 



"Good gracious!" exclaims my Aunt, "then if there 



