The demeanour of the man upon the way struck me as somewhat singular.

I had frequently spoken to him before, and had always found him civil and respectful, but he was now reserved and sullen, and replied to two or three questions which I put to him in anything but a courteous manner.

On arriving at the place where the magistrates were sitting--an inn at a small town about two miles distant--I found a more than usual number of people assembled, who appeared to be conversing with considerable eagerness.

At sight of me they became silent, but crowded after me as I followed the man into the magistrates' room.

There I found the tradesman to whom I had paid the note for the furniture, at the town fifteen miles off, in attendance, accompanied by an agent of the Bank of England; the former, it seems, had paid the note into a provincial bank, the proprietors of which, discovering it to be a forgery, had forthwith written up to the Bank of England, who had sent down their agent to investigate the matter.