'Well, sir, after you was gone, of course in the crowd the real pickpocket got off scot-free. It turned out that the farmer and him that told me had been "done" by some sharper, and that they was just ready to pass off on this foreigner a lot of counterfeit money.'
'Great Cæsar!' I ejaculated, and then checked my hasty speech. After all, why should I expend my breath or wrath upon this guileless guard, who, after all, was doing me a service? and how cleverly Smug had twisted the story, and made it serve his turn! But it must not be repeated—if it had not been already.
'Look here,' I said in a more amiable tone, 'have you told this affair, all or any of it, to anyone?'
'Who—me? No. Haven't had the chance. The fellow that was with me that day was taken off next day, and I've not seen a soul I know since. I did want to tell him.'
'It's well you did not. Look here, if you want to keep out of trouble, you must keep perfectly dark about this matter. It's being sifted on the quiet, and they'd take it very ill at headquarters if one of the guards was to "leak" on them, and maybe spoil their game. And if you should chance to meet this party again, remember, mum's the word.'
'I'll keep mum, sir. I don't want to lose my job, not yet, before I've seen half the Fair.'
'Very good. Now, how long have you been on duty about this place?'
'Two weeks, sir—ever since I was put on the force.'
'And this foreigner—manager as you call him—did you have a good look at him?'
'Oh yes, sir.'