he had sent the book to York, and said that he bought it from some
one about a month ago. His customer came late, and as White is
short sighted, and there was only a tallow candle burning in the
shop, he said that he should not know him again, and could say
nothing about his age; however, I shall call him in; he is now
outside with the constable. I am sure that for your own sakes you
will not object to his taking a look at you."

Mr. Porson went to the door, and the constable and White entered.
The chief constable, when Mr. Porson had called upon him to ask
for one of his men to accompany him to the dealer's, had told him
that White bore a very bad reputation. He was suspected of being
the medium through whom stolen goods in that part of Yorkshire were
sent up to London for disposal. A highwayman who had been caught
and executed at York, had in his confession stated that this man
had acted as his go between for the disposal of the watches and
other articles he took from travelers, and White's premises had
then been thoroughly searched by the constables; but as nothing
suspicious was found, and there was only the unsupported confession
of the highwayman against him, he had got off scot free.

"I don't think you will get anything out of him, Mr. Porson," the
constable said. "The fact that he has been trusted by these fellows
shows that he is not a man to peach upon those with whom he deals;
and in the next place he would know well enough that if any one were
convicted of stealing this book he would be liable to a prosecution
as receiver; and though we could scarcely get a conviction against
him, as we could not prove that he knew that it was stolen, it
would do him no good."