"All in good time; they have left their trail. So you have been ill, have you?"
"Ill! just take a sight at me! There's a arm for a big man."
He stretched out his naked arm for inspection: it appeared as if a touch would snap it. The stranger laid his hand upon its fingers, and his other hand appeared to be stealing furtively towards his own pocket.
"I should say this looks like starvation, Joe."
"Some'at akin to it."
A pause of unsuspicion, and the handcuffs were clapped on the astonished man. He started up with an oath.
"No need to make a noise, Nicholls," said the detective, with a careless air, as he lifted off his hat: "I have two men waiting outside. Do you know me?"
The prisoner gave a gasp. "Why, it's Mr. Pullet!"
"Yes; it's Mr. Pullet, Joe."
"I swear I wasn't in the plate robbery," passionately uttered the man. "I knew of it, but I didn't join 'em, and I never had the worth of as much as a saltspoon, after it was melted down. And they call me a coward, and they leave me here to starve and die! Sir, I swear I wasn't in it."