honour which they supposed justly due to him； when to the surprise
of every one he was taken into custody by the deservedly popular
Ranger of the King's preserves； and in the course of the afternoon
it became generally known that he had been arrested on the charge
of being one of a gang of poachers who have been known for some
time past to be making much havoc among the quails on the
preserves。
〃This offence； at all times deplored by those who desire that his
Majesty should enjoy good sport when he honours us with a visit； is
doubly deplorable during the season when； on the higher parts of
the preserves； the young birds are not yet able to shift for
themselves； the Ranger； therefore； is indefatigable in his efforts
to break up the gang； and with this end in view； for the last
fortnight has been out night and day on the remoter sections of the
forestlittle suspecting that the marauders would venture so near
Sunch'ston as it now seems they have done。 It is to his extreme
anxiety to detect and punish these miscreants that we must ascribe
the arrest of a man； who； however foolish； and indeed guilty； he is
in other respects； is innocent of the particular crime imputed to
him。 The circumstances that led to his arrest have reached us from
an exceptionally well…informed source； and are as follows：…
〃Our distinguished guests； Professors Hanky and Panky； both of them
justly celebrated archaeologists； had availed themselves of the
opportunity afforded them by their visit to Sunch'ston； to inspect
the mysterious statues at the head of the stream that comes down
near this city； and which have hitherto baffled all those who have
tried to ascertain their date and purpose。
〃On their descent after a fatiguing day the Professors were
benighted； and lost their way。 Seeing the light of a small fire
among some trees near them； they made towards it； hoping to be
directed rightly； and found a man； respectably dressed； sitting by
the fire with several brace of quails beside him； some of them
plucked。 Believing that in spite of his appearance； which would
not have led them to suppose that he was a poacher； he must
unquestionably be one； they hurriedly enquired their way； intending
to leave him as soon as they had got their answer； he； however；
attacked them； or made as though he would do so； and said he would
show them a way which they should be in no fear of losing； whereon
Professor Hanky； with a well…directed blow； felled him to the
ground。 The two Professors； fearing that other poachers might come
to his assistance； made off as nearly as they could guess in the
direction of Sunch'ston。 When they had gone a mile or two onward
at haphazard； they sat down under a large tree； and waited till day
began to break； they then resumed their journey； and before long
struck a path which led them to a spot from which they could see
the towers of the new temple。
〃Fatigued though they were； they waited before taking the rest of
which they stood much in need； till they had reported their
adventure at the Ranger's office。 The Ranger was still out on the
preserves； but immediately on his return on Saturday morning he
read the description of the poacher's appearance and dress； about
which last； however； the only remarkable feature was that it was
better than a poacher might be expected to possess； and gave an air
of respectability to the wearer that might easily disarm suspicion。
〃The Ranger made enquiries at all the inns in Sunch'ston； and at
length succeeded in hearing of a stranger who appeared to
correspond with the poacher whom the Professors had seen； but the
man had already left； and though the Ranger did his best to trace
him he did not succeed。 On Sunday morning； however； he observed
the prisoner； and found that he answered the description given by
the Professors； he therefore arrested him quietly in the temple；
but told him that he should not take him to prison till the service
was over。 The man said he would come quietly inasmuch as he should
easily be able to prove his innocence。 In the meantime； however；
he professed the utmost anxiety to hear Professor Hanky's sermon；
which he said he believed would concern him nearly。 The Ranger
paid no attention to this； and was as much astounded as the rest of
the congregation were； when immediately after one of Professor
Hanky's most eloquent passages； the man started up and declared
himself to be the Sunchild。 On this the Ranger took him away at
once； and for the man's own protection hurried him off to prison。
〃Professor Hanky was so much shocked at such outrageous conduct；
that for the moment he failed to recognise the offender； after a
few seconds； however； he grasped the situation； and knew him to be
one who on previous occasions； near Bridgeford； had done what he
was now doing。 It seems that he is notorious in the neighbourhood
of Bridgeford； as a monomaniac who is so deeply impressed with the
beauty of the Sunchild's characterand we presume also of his own…
…as to believe that he is himself the Sunchild。
〃Recovering almost instantly from the shock the interruption had
given him； the learned Professor calmed his hearers by acquainting
them with the facts of the case； and continued his sermon to the
delight of all who heard it。 We should say； however； that the
gentleman who twenty years ago instructed the Sunchild in the
Erewhonian language； was so struck with some few points of
resemblance between the stranger； and his former pupil； that he
acclaimed him； and was removed forcibly by the vergers。
〃On Monday morning the prisoner was brought up before the Mayor。
We cannot say whether it was the sobering effect of prison walls；
or whether he had been drinking before he entered the temple； and
had now had time enough to recover himselfat any rate for some
reason or other he was abjectly penitent when his case came on for
hearing。 The charge of poaching was first gone into； but was
immediately disposed of by the evidence of the two Professors； who
stated that the prisoner bore no resemblance to the poacher they
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 co