"Very well, Sally; be at your post, and don't forget to dose them well, porter and all; then we shall have less bother."

"And you'll promise to marry me next week, Jem?"

"To be sure," said one of the men; "but we must be off now." So saying, he and his fellow ruffian disappeared, leaving me petrified with horror, at what I saw was a determination to rob the house, and perhaps murder our good old porter and his little son.

That a traitress should be amongst us, hurt me greatly, though perhaps I ought not to have been so much surprised, as this housemaid was the only one I had always disliked, being often disgusted by her canting manners, and sly, bad impression of coun

tenance.

I hastened to my room, which looked back, before Sally quitted the area steps, that she might not suspect me of having seen her with her two accomplices, and I immediately began to consider what I had best do to counteract their iniquitous scheme.

After turning many plans over in my mind, I resolved upon going directly after breakfast, the following day, to the bankers where the plate was deposited, tell them all I had heard and suspected, and ask their advice as to how these wretches might be secured.

I could not, as may be imagined, close my eyes the whole night, knowing what a wicked creature we had under the roof.

The next day, after setting the servants to their several employments, I told them I was going out for about an hour, and as I passed the porter I cautioned him not to leave the house upon any account.

I got into the first hackney coach, and soon reached the bank, where I asked and obtained a private interview with its head.

He seemed thunderstruck at all I told him, commended my prudence in not having breathed a word of what had passed to any of the servants, and ended by sending me with one of his confidential clerks to Bow Street. Here I again told my story, and a plan was laid to secure the robbers.

I was to go back to

Street as if nothing

was in agitation, to take an opportunity of putting the porter on his guard, as I assured the magistrates that he might be trusted, and to send for the plate as we had originally intended.

In the mean time, two Bow Street officers were to be concealed in the porter's room, while two others were to keep watch, separately, in the street.

As soon as I got back to

Street, I dis

patched the housemaid on an errand to get her out of the way, while I informed the porter of all that had passed.

He soon understood the part he was to play, and undertook to admit secretly the two officers as soon as it should be dusk, while I was to keep the housemaid occupied at a distance.

The plate arrived, and was deposited (as intended) in the porter's bed-room, which opened into the hall.

Evening closed in, and calling the artful Sally into my room, I kept her engaged till I heard the signal from the porter that the officers were safely housed.

Sally brought me some refreshment, which she pressed me to partake of, but of course I took care not to touch it. She then retired, saying that she was going to bed directly, as she wished to get up early in the morning.

It was now ten o'clock, and I went down as usual to see that all the doors and windows were properly secured, and bidding the servants good night, returned to my room.

Everything was soon perfectly silent. I listened with a beating heart for the clock striking twelve. I had left the door of my room, which opened into a front room, ajar, while the other door, which led to the stairs, I had locked.

Creeping softly to the window of the front room I could see (by the light of the lamps) two men on the opposite side of the way looking towards our house, and I soon perceived that they were the very ruffians I had observed the preceding evening.

In a few moments they crossed the street, and I lost sight of them. A faint noise, like the drawing of a bolt, riveted my attention,

and as the room I was in was exactly over the hall, I became convinced that the men had entered.

I then looked out again, and two other persons, whom I concluded to be the constables who were to be on the watch outside, hurried across the street, and in two seconds the front door was closed with violence, and hastening then to the landing-place, I heard a struggle, and in a moment after, a shot.

I was ready to sink with terror, but roused myself sufficiently to fly to the cook's bedroom, whom, with her companion, I awakened with difficulty. The housemaid of course was not there.

It was a considerable time before I could make the two women comprehend what was going on. As soon as they were dressed, we ran down stairs, and found the two ruffians in the hall, handcuffed, while Sally was alternately abusing the officers, and crying and wringing her hands.

In half an hour, a couple of hackney-coaches conveyed the three culprits to Bow Street.