A CONFESSION 327

divert them by telling stories of various arrests and cap-
tures in which he had been concerned. ‘The clock had just
struck five when they heard a step coming up the quiet
street.

“That is likely to be the man,” Tony said. “It is about
the hour we expected him.”

He blew out the candle and opened the door quietly, and
they went out into the passage. A moment later the step
stopped at the door, the latch clicked, and it was opened.
A man entered and closed the door behind him. As he
did so Charlie, who had marked his exact position, made a
step forward and threw his arms round him. The man
gave an exclamation of surprise and alarm, and then strug-
gled fiercely, but he was in the hands of one far stronger
than himself. A moment later he felt that his assailant
was not alone, for he was grasped by the throat, and at the
same time he felt something cold close round his wrists.
There was a sharp click, and he knew that he was hand-
cuffed. Then a low voice said, “I arrest you in the name
of the queen for being concerned in the robbery of the
Portsmouth coach at Dorking.” Then a gag was forced
between his tecth. Bewildered at the suddenness of the
attack, he ceased to struggle, and remained quiet in the
grasp of his captors till there was the sound of the striking
of flint and steel hard by. Then Tony came out of the
parlour with a lighted candle, the highwayman was lifted
into the room, and the door was shut. He then saw that
his captors were three in number. ‘There were two young
gentlemen and a smaller man, who, as he looked at him,
held out a badge, and showed that he was an officer of the
law. His pistols and sword were removed, then his pockets
were searched, and two watches and three purses, with some
rings and bracelets, were taken out and laid on the table.

“Tt came off, you see,” ‘Tony said to Charlie.

“Well, Master Nicholson, to use one of your aliases, of