A THIEF who had brought a suit against his accomplices1 to recover

　　his share of the plunder2 taken from an Honest Man, demanded the

　　Honest Man's attendance at the trial to testify to his loss. But

　　the Honest Man explained that as he was merely the agent of a

　　company of other honest men it was none of his affair; and when the

　　officers came to serve him with a subpoena3 he hid himself behind

　　his back and wiled4 away the dragging hours of retirement5 and

　　inaction by picking his own pockets.