"Markham!" ejaculated the new prisoner.
"Yes—that is my name," said Richard: "do you know me?"
"Not that I am aweer of sir. Only the name reminded me that I have been this evening in the company of a gentleman as is in the service of a Mr. Markham. I left the Servants' Arms at twelve precisely, and walked straight down to this here wicinity—I ain't been more than half an hour coming—when I gets into a row——"
"Well, well," said Richard, somewhat impatiently "and what is the name of the person with whom you have passed the evening?"
"With several gentlemen—but the one I named was Vittingham."
"Whittingham! he is my butler. Poor fellow! how anxious he will be about me."
"He's too drunk to be anxious," said Snoggles drily: "I was the on'y one as come away sober."
"I tell you what he could do, if you like," observed the inspector, who now began to entertain an idea of Markham's standing in society by the mention of the word butler: "there is no one here to make any charge against the fellow—the constable will withdraw it, and he can take a note home for you."
"A thousand thanks!" ejaculated Markham. "But you intimated that he was tipsy?"
"He is certainly elevated," answered Snoggles.