[SERGEANT STICKTOIT sworn.

Mr. H.  Well, sergeant, you saw this woman steal the loaves?

Sticktoit.  Yes, sir.

Mr. H.  All of them?

St.  Yes, all.

Mr. H.  From different shops, or from one?

St.  From three different shops.

Mr. H.  Yes, just so. (Aside:  Then why the devil did he say from one shop when his evidence was taken before?) (To ST.) You were an eye-witness of that?  You noticed her take all three loaves?

St. (Aside:  He wants me to say from three different shops; I’m sure I don’t know why.  Anyhow, I’ll say it—­and swear it.) (To the Court) Yes, I was an eye-witness of the deed; (pompously) I followed her, and then I took her.

Mr. H.  Yes, then you took her.  Please tell the Court how.

St. (Aside:  Let’s see, what did we agree was the likeliest way?) (To Court) I saw her take the first loaf and hide it in her shawl; and then the second one; and the second one tumbled down into the mud; and she picked it up again and wiped it with her shawl; and then she took the third; and when she tried to put that with the two others they all three tumbled down; and as she stooped down to pick them up it seemed the best time to take her, as the two constables had come up; so I took her.

Mr. N.  Yes; you took her.

St.  And she cried.

Mr. H.  Ah, she cried.  Well, sergeant, that will do; you may go. (Aside:  The sooner he goes the better.  Wouldn’t I like to have the cross-examining of him if he was called on the other side!) Constable Potlegoff.

[POTLEGOFF sworn.

Mr. H.  Well, constable, did you see the woman take the loaves?

Potlegoff.  Yes, sir.

Mr. H.  How did she take them?

Pot.  Off the counter, sir.

Mr. H.  Did she go into the shop to take them?

Pot.  Yes, sir. (Aside:  I thought I was to say into three shops.)

Mr. H.  One after another?

Pot.  Yes, out of one shop one after another. (Aside:  Now it’s right, I hope.)

Mr. H. (Aside:  Confound him, he’s contradicting the other!) (To POT.) Yes, just so; one after the other.  And did you see the second loaf tumble down?

Pot.  Yes, sir.

Mr. H.  When was that?

Pot.  As she took it off the counter.

Mr. H.  Yes, after she took it off the counter, in the street?

Pot.  No, sir. (Catching the SERGEANT’S eye.) I mean yes, sir, and she wiped the mud off them; the sergeant saw her—­and I saw her.

A Voice.  Off IT, you liar! ’twas the second loaf, the single loaf, the other liar said!