"Here am I, arrested in the public streets, marched handcuffed through the town upon a most monstrous charge, which has been brought against me without a shadow of evidence." "Don't be talking, don't be talking," the constable said testily; "you will hear the evidence in time enough." "But I will talk.

I want to tell you what's happened, and you will see that I am innocent, at once." "Very well, if you will you will; but mind, don't blame me afterwards." Reuben told the story of his adventures from the time of leaving.
"There," he said when he finished, "isn't that enough to show that I am innocent ?" "No," the chief constable said gravely, "it's not enough to prove anything, one way or the other.

I am bound to say the story looks a likely one; and if it weren't for two or three matters which I heard of, from the constable who came over from Tipping, I should have no doubt about it.

However, all that is for the magistrate to decide.

There will be a meeting tomorrow." "But can't I be taken before a magistrate at once?
There's Captain Fidler, within a mile." "What would be the good ?" the chief constable said.