"What is this?" demanded the magistrate.
"A shoplifter, your worship."
"I am not, sir," replied I; "you know me well enough, I am Mr Newland."
"Mr Newland!" replied the magistrate, suspiciously; "this is strange, a second time to appear before me upon such a charge."
"And just as innocent as before, sir."
"You'll excuse me, sir, but I must have my suspicions this time. Where is the evidence?"
The people of the shop then came forward, and stated what had occurred. "Let him be searched," said the magistrate.
I was searched, but nothing was found upon me. "Are you satisfied now, sir?" inquired I.
"By no means. Let the people go back and look over their laces, and see if any are missing; in the meantime I shall detain you, for it is very easy to get rid of a small article, such as lace, when you are caught."
The men went away, and I wrote a note to Major Carbonnell, requesting his attendance. He arrived at the same time as the shopman, and I told him what had happened. The shopman declared that the stock was not correct; as far as they could judge, there were two pieces of lace missing.