"You will have to take off the coat and accompany me to the police station."
"This is an outrage!" exclaimed the young man. "My uncle will be very angry."
"If he identifies you, and assures us that it was by his authority you borrowed the coat, we will apologize."
"But that won't make up to me for your unwarrantable interference. Take the coat and let me go."
In spite of his protestations, however, Mr. Charles Drayton, as he called himself, was escorted to the nearest police station and held for examination. He was tried, and would have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment, Mr. Silas Drayton disclaiming all relationship, had not the old gentleman taken pity on him and declined to prosecute.
It appeared at the trial that the young man was well known to the police as Sidney Marvin, an expert thief, born in London, but for three years a resident of the United States. Mr. Drayton was blamed for allowing him to escape punishment, but he was a soft-hearted man, and disposed to give the young man another chance.