already described; they wondered at the chance which had brought
them together at the "Three Rooks;" nor did Brock at all hesitate to
tell her at once that his calling was quite illegal, and that his
intention was simply to extort money. The worthy Corporal had not
the slightest shame regarding his own profession, and cut many jokes
with Mrs. Cat about her late one; her attempt to murder the Count,
and her future prospects as a wife.

And here, having brought him upon the scene again, we may as well
shortly narrate some of the principal circumstances which befell him
after his sudden departure from Birmingham; and which he narrated
with much candour to Mrs. Catherine.

He rode the Captain's horse to Oxford (having exchanged his military
dress for a civil costume on the road), and at Oxford he disposed of
"George of Denmark," a great bargain, to one of the heads of
colleges. As soon as Mr. Brock, who took on himself the style and
title of Captain Wood, had sufficiently examined the curiosities of
the University, he proceeded at once to the capital: the only place
for a gentleman of his fortune and figure.

Here he read, with a great deal of philosophical indifference, in
the Daily Post, the Courant, the Observator, the Gazette, and the
chief journals of those days, which he made a point of examining at
"Button's" and "Will's," an accurate description of his person, his
clothes, and the horse he rode, and a promise of fifty guineas'
reward to any person who would give an account of him (so that he
might be captured) to Captain Count Galgenstein at Birmingham, to
Mr. Murfey at the "Golden Ball" in the Savoy, or Mr. Bates at the
"Blew Anchor in Pickadilly." But Captain Wood, in an enormous