Memoirs Of Joseph Grimaldi

60 MEMOIRS OF JOSEPH GBIMAIDI.

"Ah!" said Mr. Trott, "that isn't near enough."

"Enough! no !" rejoined Grrimaldi; "and it would loll my
mother."

"I dare say it would," acquiesced the officer; "my mother
was Mlled in a similar manner."

This, like the .rest of the officer's discourse, was far from con-
solatory, and Grrimaldi looked anxiously in his face for something
like a ray of hope.

Mr. Trott meditated for some short time, and then, looldng
up with his head on one side, said, " I think I see a way now,
master."

" What is it ? What do you propose ? I'm agreeable to any-
thing," said Grrimaldi, in a most accommodating manner.

" Never mind that," said the officer. " You put yourself into
my hands, and I'll be the saving of your property, and the
taking of them."

Grrimaldi burst into many expressions of admiration and
gratitude, and put his hand into Mr. Trott's hands, as an
earnest of Ms readiness to deposit himself there.

"Only rid us," said Grrimaldi, "of these dreadful visitors,
who really keep us in a state of perpetual misery, and anything
you tihJTiTc proper to accept shall be cheerfully paid you."

The officer replied^ withmany moral observations on the duties
of police-officers, their incorruptible honesty, their zeal, and
• |j rigid discharge of the functions reposed in them. If Mr.

Grrimaldi would do his duty to his country, and prosecute them
to conviction, that was all he required.

To ibis, Gfrimaldi, not having any precise idea of the expense
of a prosecution, readily assented, and the officer declared he
should be sufficiently repaid by the pleasing consciousness of
having done Ms duty. He did not consider it necessary to add,
that a reward had been offered for the apprehension of the same
offenders, payable on their conviction.

They walked back to the house together, and the officer havingtroyed. With the