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Dickens, Charles – Reprinted Pieces
at it. I found it what it had been described, and sauntered in, to
look about me. The landlady was in the bar, and I was trying to
get into conversation with her; asked her how business was, and
spoke about the wet weather, and so on; when I saw, through an open
door, three men sitting by the fire in a sort of parlour, or
kitchen; and one of those men, according to the description I had
of him, was Tally-ho Thompson!
‘I went and sat down among ’em, and tried to make things agreeable;
but they were very shy – wouldn’t talk at all – looked at me, and
at one another, in a way quite the reverse of sociable. I reckoned
’em up, and finding that they were all three bigger men than me,
and considering that their looks were ugly – that it was a lonely
place – railroad station two miles off – and night coming on –
thought I couldn’t do better than have a drop of brandy-and-water
to keep my courage up. So I called for my brandy-and-water; and as
I was sitting drinking it by the fire, Thompson got up and went
out.
‘Now the difficulty of it was, that I wasn’t sure it WAS Thompson,
because I had never set eyes on him before; and what I had wanted
was to be quite certain of him. However, there was nothing for it
now, but to follow, and put a bold face upon it. I found him
talking, outside in the yard, with the landlady. It turned out
afterwards that he was wanted by a Northampton officer for
something else, and that, knowing that officer to be pock-marked
(as I am myself), he mistook me for him. As I have observed, I
found him talking to the landlady, outside. I put my hand upon his
shoulder – this way – and said, “Tally-ho Thompson, it’s no use. I
know you. I’m an officer from London, and I take you into custody
for felony!” “That be d-d!” says Tally-ho Thompson.
‘We went back into the house, and the two friends began to cut up
rough, and their looks didn’t please me at all, I assure you. “Let
the man go. What are you going to do with him?” “I’ll tell you
what I’m going to do with him. I’m going to take him to London tonight,
as sure as I’m alive. I’m not alone here, whatever you may
think. You mind your own business, and keep yourselves to
yourselves. It’ll be better for you, for I know you both very
well.” I’D never seen or heard of ’em in all my life, but my
bouncing cowed ’em a bit, and they kept off, while Thompson was
making ready to go. I thought to myself, however, that they might
be coming after me on the dark road, to rescue Thompson; so I said
to the landlady, “What men have you got in the house, Missis?” “We
haven’t got no men here,” she says, sulkily. “You have got an
ostler, I suppose?” “Yes, we’ve got an ostler.” “Let me see him.”
Presently he came, and a shaggy-headed young fellow he was. “Now
attend to me, young man,” says I; “I’m a Detective Officer from
London. This man’s name is Thompson. I have taken him into
custody for felony. I am going to take him to the railroad
station. I call upon you in the Queen’s name to assist me; and
mind you, my friend, you’ll get yourself into more trouble than you
know of, if you don’t!’ You never saw a person open his eyes so
wide. “Now, Thompson, come along!” says I. But when I took out
the handcuffs, Thompson cries, “No! None of that! I won’t stand
THEM! I’ll go along with you quiet, but I won’t bear none of
that!” “Tally-ho Thompson,” I said, “I’m willing to behave as a
man to you, if you are willing to behave as a man to me. Give me
your word that you’ll come peaceably along, and I don’t want to
handcuff you.” “I will,” says Thompson, “but I’ll have a glass of