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had seen； save that he was about the same height and age； and was
respectably dressed。
〃The charge of disturbing the congregation by declaring himself the
Sunchild was then proceeded with； and unnecessary as it may appear
to be； it was thought advisable to prevent all possibility of the
man's assertion being accepted by the ignorant as true； at some
later date； when those who could prove its falsehood were no longer
living。 The prisoner； therefore； was removed to his cell； and
there measured by the Master of the Gaol； and the Ranger in the
presence of the Mayor； who attested the accuracy of the
measurements。 Not one single one of them corresponded with those
recorded of the Sunchild himself； and a few marks such as moles；
and permanent scars on the Sunchild's body were not found on the
prisoner's。 Furthermore the prisoner was shaggy…breasted； with
much coarse jet black hair on the fore…arms and from the knees
downwards； whereas the Sunchild had little hair save on his head；
and what little there was； was fine； and very light in colour。
〃Confronted with these discrepancies； the gentleman who had taught
the Sunchild our language was convinced of his mistake； though he
still maintained that there was some superficial likeness between
his former pupil and the prisoner。 Here he was confirmed by the
Master of the Gaol； the Mayoress； Mrs。 Humdrum； and Professors
Hanky and Panky； who all of them could see what the interpreter
meant； but denied that the prisoner could be mistaken for the
Sunchild for more than a few seconds。 No doubt the prisoner's
unhappy delusion has been fostered； if not entirely caused； by his
having been repeatedly told that he was like the Sunchild。 The
celebrated Dr。 Downie； who well remembers the Sunchild； was also
examined； and gave his evidence with so much convincing detail as
to make it unnecessary to call further witnesses。
〃It having been thus once for all officially and authoritatively
placed on record that the prisoner was not the Sunchild； Professors
Hanky and Panky then identified him as a well known monomaniac on
the subject of Sunchildism； who in other respects was harmless。 We
withhold his name and place of abode； out of consideration for the
well known and highly respectable family to which he belongs。 The
prisoner admitted with much contrition that he had made a
disturbance in the temple； but pleaded that he had been carried
away by the eloquence of Professor Hanky； he promised to avoid all
like offence in future； and threw himself on the mercy of the
court。
〃The Mayor； unwilling that Sunday's memorable ceremony should be
the occasion of a serious punishment to any of those who took part
in it； reprimanded the prisoner in a few severe but not unkindly
words； inflicted a fine of forty shillings； and ordered that the
prisoner should be taken directly to the temple； where he should
confess his folly to the Manager and Head Cashier； and confirm his
words by kissing the reliquary in which the newly found relic has
been placed。 The prisoner being unable to pay the fine； some of
the ladies and gentlemen in court kindly raised the amount amongst
them； in pity for the poor creature's obvious contrition； rather
than see him sent to prison for a month in default of payment。
〃The prisoner was then conducted to the temple； followed by a
considerable number of people。 Strange to say； in spite of the
overwhelming evidence that they had just heard； some few among the
followers； whose love of the marvellous overpowered their reason；
still maintained that the prisoner was the Sunchild。 Nothing could
be more decorous than the prisoner's behaviour when； after hearing
the recantation that was read out to him by the Manager； he signed
the document with his name and address； which we again withhold；
and kissed the reliquary in confirmation of his words。
〃The Mayor then declared the prisoner to be at liberty。 When he
had done so he said； 'I strongly urge you to place yourself under
my protection for the present； that you may be freed from the
impertinent folly and curiosity of some whose infatuation might
lead you from that better mind to which I believe you are now
happily restored。 I wish you to remain for some few hours secluded
in the privacy of my own study； where Dr。 Downie and the two
excellent Professors will administer that ghostly counsel to you；
which will be likely to protect you from any return of your unhappy
delusion。'
〃The man humbly bowed assent； and was taken by the Mayor's younger
sons to the Mayor's own house； where he was duly cared for。 About
midnight； when all was quiet； he was conducted to the outskirts of
the town towards Clearwater； and furnished with enough money to
provide for his more pressing necessities till he could reach some
relatives who reside three or four days' walk down on the road
towards the capital。 He desired the man who accompanied him to
repeat to the Mayor his heartfelt thanks for the forbearance and
generosity with which he had been treated。 The remembrance of
this； he said； should be ever present with him； and he was
confident would protect him if his unhappy monomania shewed any
signs of returning。
〃Let us now； however； remind our readers that the poacher who
threatened Professors Hanky and Panky's life on Thursday evening
last is still at large。 He is evidently a man of desperate
character； and it is to be hoped that our fellow…citizens will give
immediate information at the Ranger's office if they see any
stranger in the neighbourhood of the preserves whom they may have
reasonable grounds for suspecting。
〃P。S。As we are on the point of going to press we learn that a
dangerous lunatic； who has been for some years confined in the
Clearwater asylum； succeeded in escaping on the night of Wednesday
last； and it is surmised with much probability； that this was the
man who threatened the two Professors on Thursday evening。 His
being alone； his having dared to light a fire； probably to cook
quails which he had been driven to kill from stress of hunger； the
respectability of his dress； and the fury with which he would have
attacked the two Professors single…handed； but for Professor
Hanky's presence of mind in giving him a knock…down blow； all point
in the direction of thinking that he was no true poacher； but； what
is even more dangerousa madman at large。 We have not received
any particulars as to the man's appearance； nor the clothes he was
wearing； but we have little doubt that these will confirm the
surmise to which we now give publicity。 If it is correct it
becomes doubly incumbent on all our fellow…citizens to be both on
the watch； and on their guard。
〃We may add that the man was fully believed to have taken the
direction towards the capital； hence no attempts were made to look
for him in the neighbourhood of Sunch'ston； until news of the
threatened attack on the Professors led the keeper of the asylum to
feel confident that he had hitherto been on a wrong scent。〃
CHAPTER XXIII： MY FATHER IS ESCORTED TO THE MAYOR'S HOUSE； AND IS
INTRODUCED TO A FUTURE DAUGHTER…IN…LAW
My father said he was followed to the Mayor's h