on her at five o'clock this afternoon-in plain clothes of course-and obtain whatever information on the subject she may be able to afford. Remember to communicate directly with me; and any assistance you may require shall be promptly rendered." With these, and a few other minor directions, needless to recapitulate, I was dismissed to a task which, difficult and possibly perilous as it might prove, I hailed as a delightful relief from the wearing monotony and dull routine of ordinary duty. I hastened home; and after dressing with great care the best part of my wardrobe had been fortunately saved by Emily from the wreck of my fortunes-I proceeded to Lady Everton's mansion. I was immediately marshaled to the drawing-room, where I found her ladyship and her daughter-a beautiful, fairy-looking girl-awaiting my arrival. Lady Everton appeared greatly surprised at my appearance, differing, as I dare say it altogether did, from her abstract idea of a policeman, however attired or disguised; and it was not till she had perused the note of which I was the bearer, that her haughty and incredulous stare became mitigated to a glance of lofty condescendent civility. "Be seated, Mr. Waters," said her ladyship, waving me to a chair. "This note informs me that you have been selected for the duty of endeavoring to extricate my son from the perilous entanglements in which he has unhappily involved himself.” I was about to reply-for I was silly enough to feel somewhat nettled at the noble lady's haughtiness of manner-that I was engaged in the public service of extirpating a gang of swindlers with whom her son had involved himself, and was there to procure from her ladyship any information she might be possessed of likely to forward so desirable a result; but fortunately the remembrance of my actual position, spite of my gentleman's attire, flashed vividly upon my mind; and instead of permitting my glib tongue to wag irreverently in the presence of a right honorable, I bowed with deferential acquiescence. Her ladyship proceeded, and I in substance obtained the following information : : Mr. Charles Merton, during the few months which had elapsed since the attainment of his majority, had very literally "fallen amongst thieves." A passion for gambling seemed to have taken entire possession of his being; and almost every day, as well as night, of his haggard and feverish life was passed at play. A run of ill-luck, according to his own belief-but in very truth a run of down | right robbery-had set in against him, and he had not only dissipated all the ready money which he had inherited, and the large sums which the foolish indulgence of his lady-mother had supplied him with, but had involved himself in bonds, bills, and other obligations to a frightful amount. The principal agent in effecting this ruin was one Sandford-a man of fashionable and dashing exterior, and the presiding spirit of the knot of desperadoes whom I was commissioned to hunt out. Strange to say, Mr. Merton had the blindest reliance upon this man's honor; and even now-tricked, despoiled as he had been by him and his gang-relied upon his counsel and assistance for escape from the desperate position in which he was involved. The Everton estates had passed, in default of male issue, to a distant relative of the late lord; so that ruin, absolute and irremediable, stared both the wretched dupe and his relatives in the face. Lady Everton's jointure was not a very large one, and her son had been permitted to squander sums which should have been devoted to the discharge of claims which were now pressed harshly against her. I listened with the deepest interest to Lady Everton's narrative. Repeatedly during the course of it, as she incidentally alluded to the manners and appearance of Sandford, who had been introduced by Mr. Merton to his mother and sister, a suspicion, which the police papers had first awakened, that the gentleman in question was an old acquaintance of my own, and one, moreover, whose favors I was extremely desirous to return in kind, flashed with increased conviction across my mind. This surmise I of course kept to myself; and after emphatically cautioning the ladies to keep our proceedings a profound secret from Mr. Merton, I took my leave, amply provided with the resources requisite for carrying into effect the scheme which I had resolved upon. I also arranged that, instead of waiting personally on her ladyship, which might excite observation and suspicion, I should report progress by letter through the post. "If it should be he!" thought I, as I emerged into the street. The bare suspicion had sent the blood through my veins with furious violence. "If this Sandford be, as I suspect, that villain Cardon, success will indeed be triumph-victory! Lady Everton need not in that case seek to animate my zeal by promises of money recompense. A blighted existence, a young and gentle wife by his means cast down from opulence to sordid penury, would stimulate the dullest craven 1849.] RECOLLECTIONS OF A POLICEO FFICER. that ever crawled the earth to energy and action. Pray Heaven my suspicion prove correct; and then, oh mine enemy, look well to yourself, for the avenger is at your heels!" Sandford, I had been instructed, was usually present at the Italian Opera during the ballet: the box he generally occupied was designated in the memoranda of the police and as I saw by the bills that a very successful piece was to be performed that evening, I determined on being present. I entered the house a few minutes past ten o'clock, just after the commencement of the ballet, and looked eagerly round. The box in which I was instructed to seek my man was empty. Passgrove is dead!" interrupted my old acquaintance, eagerly jumping to a conclusion, "and you are his heir! I congratulate you, my dear fellow. This is indeed a charming 'reverse of circumstances.' "Yes; but mind I have given up the old game. No more dice-devilry for me. I have promised Emily never even to touch a card again." "Yes: do not forget. But allons, or the ballet will be over." The cold, hard eye of the incarnate fiend-he was little else gleamed mockingly as these "good intentions" of a practiced gamester fell upon his ear; but he only replied, "Very good; quite right, my dear boy. But come, let me introduce you to Mr. Merton, a The momentary disap-highly-connected personage, I assure you. Five minutes By the by, Waters," he added, in a caressing, pointment was soon repaid. had not elapsed when Cardon, looking more confidential tone, "my name, for family and insolently-triumphant than ever, entered arm- other reasons, which I will hereafter explain in-arm with a pale, aristocratic-looking young to you, is for the present Sandford." "Sandford!" man, whom I had no difficulty, from his striking resemblance to a portrait in Lady Everton's drawing-room, in deciding to be I was introduced in due form to Mr. MerMr. Merton. My course of action was at once determined on. Pausing only to mas- ton as an old and esteemed friend, whom he ter the emotion which the sight of the glit--Sandford-had not seen for many months. tering reptile in whose poisonous folds I had been involved and crushed inspired, I passed to the opposite side of the house, and boldly entered the box. Cardon's back was toward me, and I tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He turned quickly round; and if a basilisk had confronted him, he could scarcely have exhibited greater terror and surprise. My aspect, nevertheless, was studiously bland and conciliating, and my outstretched hand seemed to invite a renewal of our old friendship. "Waters!" he at last stammered, feebly accepting my proffered grasp-"who would have thought of meeting you here?" At the conclusion cf the ballet, Sandford We discussed two or three bottles of wine "You will accompany us, Waters ?" said Sandford, as we rose to depart. "There is, I suppose, no vow registered in the matrimonial archives against looking on at a game played by others?" "Oh no; but don't ask me to play." "Certainly not ;" and a devilish sneer curled his lip. "Your virtue shall suffer no temptation, be assured." We soon arrived before the door of a quiet, respectable-looking house in one of the streets leading from the Strand: a low peculiar knock, given by Sandford, was promptly answered; then a password, which I did not catch, was whispered by him through the key-hole, and we passed in. We proceeded up stairs to the first floor, the shutters of which were carefully closed, so that no intimation of what was going on could possibly reach the street. The apartment was brilliantly lighted: a roulette table and dice and cards were in full activity: wine and liquors of all varieties were profusely paraded. There were about half-a-dozen persons present, I soon discovered, besides the gang, and that comprised eleven or twelve well-dressed desperadoes, whose sinister aspects induced a momentary qualm lest one or more of the pleasant party might suspect or recognize my vocation. This, however, I reflected, was scarcely possible. My beat during the short period I had been in the force was far distant from the usual haunts of such gentry, and I was otherwise unknown in London. Still, questioning glances were eagerly directed toward my introducer; and one big burly fellow, a foreigner-the rascals were the scum of various countries-was very unpleasantly inquisitorial. "Y'en réponds!" I heard Sandford say in answer to his iterated queries; and he added something in a whisper which brought a sardonic smile to the fellow's lips, and induced a total change in his demeanor toward myself. This was reassuring; for though provided with pistols, I should, I felt, have little chance with such utterly reckless ruffians as those by whom I was surrounded. Play was proposed; and though at first stoutly refusing, I feigned to be gradually overcome by irresistible temptation, and sat down to blind hazard with my foreign friend for moderate stakes. I was graciously allowed to win; and in the end found myself richer in devil's money by about ten pounds. Mr. Merton was soon absorbed in the chances of the dice, and lost large sums, for which, when the money he had brought with him was exhausted, he gave written acknowledgments. The cheating practiced upon him was really audacious; and any one but a tyro must have repeatedly detected it. He, however, appeared not to entertain the slightest suspicion of the "fairplay" of his opponents, guiding himself entirely by the advice of his friend and counselor, Sandford, who did not himself play. The amiable assemblage broke up about six in the morning, each person retiring singly by the back way, receiving, as he departed, a new password for the next evening. A few hours afterward, I waited on the commissioner to report the state of affairs. He was delighted with the fortunate début I had made, but still strictly enjoined patience and caution. It would have been easy, as I was in possession of the password, to have surprised the confederacy in the act of gaming that very evening; but this would only have accomplished a part of the object aimed at. Several of the fraternity Sandford amongst the number-were suspected of uttering forged foreign bank-notes, and it was essential to watch narrowly for legal evidence to insure their conviction. It was also desirable to restore, if possible, the property and securities of which Mr. Merton had been pillaged. Nothing of especial importance occurred for seven or eight days. Gaming went on as usual every evening, and Mr. Merton became of course more and more involved: even his sister's jewels-which he had surreptitiously obtained, to such a depth of degradation will this frightful vice plunge men otherwise honorable-had been staked and lost; and he was, by the advice of Sandford, about to conclude a heavy mortgage on his estate, in order not only to clear off his enormous "debts of honor," but to acquire fresh means of "winning back"-that ignus-futuus of all gamblers-his tremendous losses! A new preliminary "dodge" was, I observed, now brought into action. Mr. Merton esteemed himself a knowing hand at ecarté: it was introduced; and he was permitted to win every game he played, much to the apparent annoyance and discomfiture of the losers. this was precisely the snare into which I had myself fallen, I of course the more readily detected it, and felt quite satisfied that a grand coup was meditated. In the meantime I had not been idle. Sandford was confidentially informed that I was only waiting in London to receive between four and five thousand pounds-part of Uncle Passgrove's legacy-and then intended to immediately hasten back to canny Yorkshire. To have seen the villain's eyes as I incidentally, as it were, announced my errand and intention! As 1849.] RECOLLECTIONS OF A POLICE-OFFICER. | ed to recover his losses to the last farthing; "No, thank you," I answered coldly. "I A malignant scowl passed over the scoundrel's features; but he made no reply. Ultimately it was decided that one of the fraternity should be dispatched in search of the required amount. They fairly flashed with infernal glee! Ah, Sandford, Sandford! you were, with all your cunning, but a sand-blind idiot to believe the had wronged and ruined could so man you easily forget the debt he owed you! The crisis came swiftly on. Mr. Merton's mortgage-money was to be paid on the morrow; and on that day, too, I announced the fabulous thousands receivable by me were to be handed over. Mr. Merton, elated by his repeated triumphs at ecarté, and prompted by his friend Sandford, resolved, instead of canceling the bonds and obligations held by the conspirators, to redeem his losses by staking on that game his ready money against those liabilities. This was at first demurred He was gone about half to with much apparent earnestness by the winners; but Mr. Merton, warmly seconded an hour, and returned with a bundle of notes. Mr. Merton looked by Sandford, insisting upon the concession, They were, as I hoped and expected, forgeas he deemed it, it was finally agreed that ries on foreign banks. ecarté should be the game by which he might at and counted them; and play commenced. As it went on, so vividly did the scene rehope to regain the fortune and the peace of mind he had so rashly squandered: the last call the evening that had sealed my own time, should he be successful-and was he ruin, that I grew dizzy with excitement, and not sure of success?-he assured Sandford, drained tumbler after tumbler of water to that he would ever handle cards or dice. He allay the fevered throbbing of my veins. The Merton lost conshould have heard the mocking merriment gamblers were fortunately too much absorbwith which the gang heard Sandford repeated to heed my agitation. this resolution to amend his ways-when he tinuously had recovered back his wealth! without pause or intermission. The stakes were doubled--trebled-quadrupled! His brain was on fire; and he played, or rather lost, with the recklessness of a madman. My ear had caught the sound; and I 66 The day so eagerly longed for by Merton and the confederates-by the spoilers and their prey arrived; and I awaited with fe"Hark! what's that?" suddenly exclaimverish anxiety the coming on of night. Only the chief conspirators-eight in numbered Sandford, from whose Satanic features the were to be present; and no stranger except mask he had so long worn before Merton had myself a privilege I owed to the moonshine been gradually slipping. "Did you not hear legacy I had just received-was to be ad- a noise below?" mitted to this crowning triumph of successful fraud. One only hint I had ventured to give Mr. Merton, and that under a promise, on his honor as a gentleman," of inviolable It was this: "Be sure, before secrecy. commencing play to-morrow night, that the bonds and obligations you have signed, the jewels you have lost, with a sum in notes or gold to make up an equal amount to that which you mean to risk, is actually deposited on the table." He promised to insist on this condition. It involved much more than he dreamed of. 66 My arrangements were at length thoroughly Not only the play, but the very breathing of the villains, was suspended as they listened for the reply. It came. The answering tinkle sounded -twice-thrice. "All right!" shouted onceSandford. "Proceed! The farce is nearly played out." I had instructed the officers that two of them in plain clothes should present themselves at the front door, obtain admission by means of the password I had given them, and immediately seize and gag the doorkeeper. I had also acquainted them with the proper answer to the signal-ring-three distinct pulls at the bell-handle communicating Their comrades were with the first floor. then to be admitted, and they were all to bundle of forged notes. silently ascend the stairs, and wait on the | I exclaimed, at the same time taking up a landing till summoned by me to enter and "It does not appear seize the gamesters. The back entrance to the house was also securely but unobtrusively watched. One only fear disturbed me: it was lest the scoundrels should take alarm in sufficient time to extinguish the lights, destroy the forged papers, and possibly escape by some private passage which might, unknown to me, exist. Rousing myself, as soon as the play was resumed, from the trance of memory by which I had been in some sort absorbed, and first ascertaining that the handles of my pistols were within easy reach-for I knew I was playing a desperate game with desperate men-I rose, stepped carelessly to the door, partially opened it, and bent forward, as if listening for a repetition of the sound which had so alarmed the company. To my great delight the landing and stairs were filled with police-officers-silent and stern as death. I drew back, and walked toward the table at which Mr. Merton was seated. The last stake- -an enormous one-was being played for. Merton lost. He sprang upon his feet, death-pale, despairing, overwhelmed, and a hoarse execration surged through his clenched teeth. Sandford and his associates coolly raked the plunder together, their features lighted up with fiendish glee. "Villain!-traitor!-miscreant !" shrieked Mr. Merton, as if smitten with sudden frenzy, and darting at Sandford's throat: "you, devil that you are, have undone, destroyed me!" No doubt of it," calmly replied Sandford, shaking off his victim's grasp; "and I think it has been very artistically and effectually done too. Sniveling, my fine fellow, will scarcely help you much.' Mr. Merton glared upon the taunting villain in speechless agony and rage. "Not quite so fast, Cardon, if you please," to me that Mr. Merton has played against equal stakes, for unquestionably this paper is not genuine." Dog!" roared Sandford, "do you hold your life so cheap ?" and he rushed toward me, as if to seize the forged notes. I was as quick as he, and the leveled tube of a pistol sharply arrested his eager onslaught. The entire gang gathered near us, flaming with excitement. Mr. Merton looked bewilderedly from one to another, apparently scarcely conscious of what was passing around him. "Wrench the papers from him!" screamed Sandford, recovering his energy. "Seize him-stab, strangle him!" "Look to yourself, scoundrel!" I shouted with equal vehemence. "Your hour is come! Officers, enter and do your duty!" In an instant the room was filled with police; and surprised, panic-stricken, paralyzed by the suddenness of the catastrophe, the gang were all secured without the slightest resistance, though most of them were armed, and marched off in custody. were Three-Sandford, or Cardon; but he had half-a-dozen aliases, one of them transported for life: the rest were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. My task was effectually accomplished. My superiors were pleased to express very warm commendation of the manner in which I had acquitted myself; and the first step in the promotion which ultimately led to my present position in another branch of the public service was soon afterward conferred upon me. Mr. Merton had his bonds, obligations, jewels, and money, restored to him; and, taught wisdom by terrible experience, never again entered a gaming-house. Neither he nor his lady-mother was ungrateful for the service I had been fortunate enough to render them. DEATH OF THE DUKE OF ST. ALBANS.The Duke of St. Albans died at his residence in London the first week in May. He was best known as having a title to marry the rich Mrs. Coutts, and a sinecure of some £1200 a year as Hereditary Grand Falconer. He was the descendant of King Charles II., and of his Protestant-that is, of Mrs. Eleanor Gwynne. It is argued that the national faith of England is pledged to pay and continue to pay this Stuart legacy of Grand Falconership. But, says the Week |