I moved towards the door. "Stay, young man, one word more; there is only one way of proceeding which would induce me to believe that you are sincere."

"What is that?" said I, stopping and looking at him anxiously.

"The purchase of a Bible."

"Purchase!" said I, "purchase! I came not to purchase, but to barter; such was my instruction, and how can I barter if I have lost the book?"

The other made no answer, and turning away I made for the door; all of a sudden I started, and turning round, "Dear me," said I, "it has just come into my head, that if the book was lost by my negligence, as it must have been, I have clearly a right to make it good."

No answer.

"Yes," I repeated, "I have clearly a right to make it good; how glad I am! see the effect of a little reflection. I will purchase a Bible instantly, that is, if I have not lost" and with con

siderable agitation I felt in my pocket.

The prim-looking man smiled: "I suppose," said

he, "that he has lost his money as well as book."

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No," said I, "I have not;" and pulling out my hand I displayed no less a sum than three half

crowns.

"O, noble goddess of the Mint!" as Dame Charlotta Nordenflycht, the Swede, said a hundred and fifty years ago, "great is thy power; how energetically the possession of thee speaks in favour of man's character!"

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Only half-a-crown for this Bible?” said I, putting down the money, "it is worth three;" and bowing to the man of the noble features, I departed with my purchase.

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Queer customer," said the prim-looking man, as I was about to close the door-" don't like him."

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Why, as to that, I scarcely know what to say," said he of the countenance of a lion.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE PICKPOCKET.-STRANGE RENCOUNTER.-DRAG HIM ALONG.-A GREAT SERVICE.-THINGS OF IMPORTANCE.-PHILOLOGICAL MATTERS. -MOTHER OF LANGUAGES.-ZHATS!

A FEW days after the occurrence of what is recorded in the last chapter, as I was wandering in the City, chance directed my footsteps to an alley leading from one narrow street to another in the neighbourhood of Cheapside. Just before I reached the mouth of the alley, a man in a great coat, closely followed by another, passed it; and, at the moment in which they were passing, I observed the man behind snatch something from the pocket of the other; whereupon, darting into the street, I seized the hindermost man by the collar, crying at the same time to the other, "My good friend, this person has just picked your pocket."

The individual whom I addressed, turning round with a start, glanced at me, and then at the person

whom I held. London is the place for strange rencounters. It appeared to me that I recognised both individuals—the man whose pocket had been picked and the other; the latter now began to struggle violently; "I have picked no one's pocket," said he. "Rascal," said the other, "you have got my pocket-book in your bosom." "No, I have not," said the other; and, struggling more violently than before, the pocket-book dropped from his bosom upon the ground.

The other was now about to lay hands upon the fellow, who was still struggling. “You had better take up your book," said I; "I can hold him." He followed my advice; and, taking up his pocketbook, surveyed my prisoner with a ferocious look, occasionally glaring at me. Yes, I had seen him before it was the stranger whom I had observed on London Bridge, by the stall of the old applewoman, with the cap and cloak; but, instead of these, he now wore a hat and great coat. "Well," said I, at last, "what am I to do with this gentleman of ours?" nodding to the prisoner, who had now left off struggling. "Shall I let him go?"

"Go!" said the other; "go! The knave-the

rascal; let him go, indeed! Not so, he shall go before the Lord Mayor. Bring him along."

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Oh, let me go," said the other: "let me go; this is the first offence, I assure ye-the first time I ever thought to do anything wrong."

"Hold your tongue," said I, "or I shall be angry with you. If I am not very much mistaken, you once attempted to cheat me."

"I never saw you before in all my life," said the fellow, though his countenance seemed to belie his words.

"That is not true," said I; "you are the man who attempted to cheat me of one and ninepence in the coach-yard, on the first morning of my arrival in London."

"I don't doubt it," said the other; "a confirmed thief;" and here his tones became peculiarly sharp; "I would fain see him hanged-crucified. Drag him along."

"I am no constable," said I; "you have got your pocket-book,-I would rather you would bid me let him go."

"Bid you let him go!" said the other almost furiously, "I command-stay, what was I going to