But it was known, at least, that she had entered the house a poor peasant girl; and what more common than for ladies of a certain description to run away from their lover, and take some of his property by mistake?
And a poor girl like Alice, what else could be expected?
The magistrate smiled, and the constables laughed.

After all, it was a good joke at the young gentleman's expense! Perhaps, as they had no orders from Maltravers, and they did not know where to find him, and thought he would be little inclined to prosecute, the search was not very rigorous.
But two houses had been robbed the night before.

Their owners were more on the alert.

Suspicion fell upon a man of infamous character, John Walters; he had disappeared from the place.

He had been last seen with an idle, drunken fellow, who was said to have known better days, and who at one time had been a skilful and well-paid mechanic, till his habits of theft and drunkenness threw him out of employ; and he had been since accused of connection with a gang of coiners--tried--and escaped from want of sufficient evidence against him.