article belonging to the deceased. Neither shall they divulge what
they have done to any one save the Head Ranger, who shall report the
circumstances of the case fully and minutely to his Majesty.

"As regards any of his Majesty's subjects who may be taken while
trespassing on his Majesty's preserves without a special permit signed
by the Mayor of Sunchildston, or any who may be convicted of poaching
on the said preserves, the Rangers shall forthwith arrest them and
bring them before the Mayor of Sunchildston, who shall enquire into
their antecedents, and punish them with such term of imprisonment,
with hard labour, as he may think fit, provided that no such term be
of less duration than twelve calendar months.

"For the further provisions of the said Act, those whom it may concern
are referred to the Act in full, a copy of which may be seen at the
official residence of the Mayor of Sunchildston."

Then followed in MS. "XIX. xii. 29. Permit Professor Hanky, Royal
Professor of Worldly Wisdom at Bridgeford, seat of learning, city of the
people who are above suspicion, and Professor Panky, Royal Professor of
Unworldly Wisdom in the said city, or either of them" [here the MS.
ended, the rest of the permit being in print] "to pass freely during the
space of forty-eight hours from the date hereof, over the King's
preserves, provided, under pain of imprisonment with hard labour for
twelve months, that they do not kill, nor cause to be killed, nor eat, if
another have killed, any one or more of his Majesty's quails."

The signature was such a scrawl that my father could not read it, but
underneath was printed, "Mayor of Sunchildston, formerly called
Coldharbour."