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 I 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 ! 
I 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 I 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 I placed my hand in my pocket to produce 
the ten shillings. There I found—twopence! I 
had left the pocket-book containing notes in my 
other coat. 
Then I did what is so often a help in a crisis. 
I burst out laughing! He was too well schooled 
to join in the hilarity, indeed he looked the picture 
