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54 HEMOEES OF JOSEPH GBIMAIDI.

The conversation naturally turned upon the robbery, and
various conjectures and surmises were hazarded relative to the
persons by whom it had been committed. It appeared perfectly
evident that the thieves, whoever they were, must have obtained
information of the expected night rehearsal at Sadler's Wells;
it was equally clear that if the rehearsal had not been most for-
tunately postponed, they would not only have lost everything
they possessed, but the thieves would have got clear off with the
booty into the bargain. It was worthy of remark, that the
house had never been attempted when the servant girl was at
home, and the females were half inclined to attach suspicion to
her; but on reflection it seemed unlikely that she was implicated
in the transaction, for she was the daughter of very respectable
parents, not to mention her uncle having held the situation of
master-tailor to the theatre for forty years, and her aunt having
served the family in the same capacity as the girl herself. In
addition to these considerations, she had been well brought up,
had always appeared strictly honest, and had already lived in
fee house for nearly four years. "Upon these grounds it was re-
solved that the girl could not be a party to the attempt.

But whoever committed the burglary, it was necessary that the
house should be well secured, with which view a carpenter was
sent for, and a great supply of extra bolts and bars were placed
upon the different doors. Notwithstanding these precautions,
however, and the additional security which they necessarily
afforded, the females were very nervous for a long time, and the
falling of a plate, or slamming of a door, or a loud ringing at the
bel, ox above all, the twopenny postman after dark, was sufficient
to throw them into the extremity of terror. Being determined not
to leave the house, in future, without somebody to take care of
it wMk the family were at the theatre, they resolved, after
many pros and cons, to engage for the purpose, a very trust-
worthy man, who was employed as a watchman to the theatre,
but was not required to attend until eleven o'clock at night, by



	54 HEMOEES OF JOSEPH GBIMAIDI. The conversation naturally turned upon the robbery, and various conjectures and surmises were hazarded relative to the persons by whom it had been committed. It appeared perfectly evident that the thieves, whoever they were, must have obtained information of the expected night rehearsal at Sadler's Wells; it was equally clear that if the rehearsal had not been most for- tunately postponed, they would not only have lost everything they possessed, but the thieves would have got clear off with the booty into the bargain. It was worthy of remark, that the house had never been attempted when the servant girl was at home, and the females were half inclined to attach suspicion to her; but on reflection it seemed unlikely that she was implicated in the transaction, for she was the daughter of very respectable parents, not to mention her uncle having held the situation of master-tailor to the theatre for forty years, and her aunt having served the family in the same capacity as the girl herself. In addition to these considerations, she had been well brought up, had always appeared strictly honest, and had already lived in fee house for nearly four years. "Upon these grounds it was re- solved that the girl could not be a party to the attempt. But whoever committed the burglary, it was necessary that the house should be well secured, with which view a carpenter was sent for, and a great supply of extra bolts and bars were placed upon the different doors. Notwithstanding these precautions, however, and the additional security which they necessarily afforded, the females were very nervous for a long time, and the falling of a plate, or slamming of a door, or a loud ringing at the bel, ox above all, the twopenny postman after dark, was sufficient to throw them into the extremity of terror. Being determined not to leave the house, in future, without somebody to take care of it wMk the family were at the theatre, they resolved, after many pros and cons, to engage for the purpose, a very trust- worthy man, who was employed as a watchman to the theatre, but was not required to attend until eleven o'clock at night, by