Don't run after him,' said Miss Sally, taking more snuff. 'Don't run

after him on any account. Give him time to get rid of it, you know. It

would be cruel to find him out!'

Mr Swiveller and Sampson Brass looked from Miss Sally to each other,

in a state of bewilderment, and then, as by one impulse, caught up

their hats and rushed out into the street - darting along in the middle

of the road, and dashing aside all obstructions, as though they were

running for their lives.

It happened that Kit had been running too, though not so fast, and

having the start of them by some few minutes, was a good distance

ahead. As they were pretty certain of the road he must have taken,

however, and kept on at a great pace, they came up with him, at the

very moment when he had taken breath, and was breaking into a run

again.

'Stop!' cried Sampson, laying his hand on one shoulder, while Mr

Swiveller pounced upon the other. 'Not so fast sir. You're in a hurry?'

Yes, I am,' said Kit, looking from one to the other in great surprise.

I - I - can hardly believe it,' panted Sampson, 'but something of value

is missing from the office. I hope you don't know what.'

'Know what! good Heaven, Mr Brass!' cried Kit, trembling from head to

foot; 'you don't suppose - '

'No, no,' rejoined Brass quickly, 'I don't suppose anything. Don't say I

said you did. You'll come back quietly, I hope?'

'Of course I will,' returned Kit. 'Why not?'

To be sure!' said Brass. 'Why not? I hope there may turn out to be no

why not. If you knew the trouble I've been in, this morning, through

taking your part, Christopher, you'd be sorry for it.'

And I am sure you'll be sorry for having suspected me sir,' replied Kit.

Come. Let us make haste back.'

'Certainly!' cried Brass, 'the quicker, the better. Mr Richard - have the

goodness, sir, to take that arm. I'll take this one. It's not easy walking

three abreast, but under these circumstances it must be done, sir;

there's no help for it.'

Kit did turn from white to red, and from red to white again, when they

secured him thus, and for a moment seemed disposed to resist. But,

quickly recollecting himself, and remembering that if he made any

The Old Curiosity Shop