Ihaveonlyoncebeenintroublewiththelaw．Thewholeprocessofbeingarrestedandtakentocourtwasaratherunpleasantexperienceatthetimebutitmakesagoodstorynow．Whatmakesitratherdisturbingwasthearbitrary（随意的）circumstancesbothofmyarrestandmysubsequent（随后的）fateincourt．

IthappenedinFebruaryabouttwelveyearsago．IhadleftschoolacoupleofmonthsbeforethatandwasnotduetogotouniversityuntilthefollowingOctober．Iwasstilllivingathomeatthetime．

OnemorningIwasinRichmondasuburbofLondonnearwhereIlived．IwaslookingforatemporaryjobsothatIcouldsaveupsomemoneytogotraveling．AsitwasafinedayandIwasinnohurryIwastakingmytimelookinginshopwindowsstrollingintheparkandsometimesjuststoppingandlookingaroundme．Itmusthavebeenthisobviousainilessnessthatledtomydownfall．

Itwasabouthalfpastelevenwhenithappened．IwasjustwalkingoutofthelocallibraryhavingunsuccessfullysoughtemploymenttherewhenIsawamanwalkingacrosstheroadwiththeobviousintentionoftalkingtome．Ithoughthewasgoingtoaskmethetime．Insteadhesaidhewasapoliceofficerandhewasarrestingme．AtfirstIthoughtitwassomekindofjoke．

ButthenanotherpolicemanappearedthistimeinuniformandIwasleftinnodoubt．

'Butwhatfor?"Iasked．

‘Wanderingwithintenttocommitanarrestableoffence'hesaid．

‘Whatoffence?'Iasked．

'Theft'hesaid．

'Theftofwhat?'Iasked．

'Milkbottles'hesaidandwithaperfectlystraightfacetoo!

'Oh'Isaid．

Itturnedouttherehadbeenalotofpettytheftsintheareaparticularlythatofstealingmilkbottlesfromdoorsteps．

ThenImademybigmistake．AtthetimeIwasnineteenhadlonguntidyhairandregardedmyselfaspanofthesixties''youthcounterculture'．AsaresultIwantedtoappearcoolandunconcernedwiththeincidentsoIsaid'Howlonghaveyoubeenfollowingme? inthemostcasualandconversationaltoneIcouldmanage．IthusappearedtothemtobequitefamiliarwiththissortofsituationanditconfirmedthemintheirbeliefthatIwasathoroughlydisreputable（品行不端的）character．

Afewminuteslaterapolicecararrived．

'Getintheback'theysaid．