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第24章

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〃I haven't got but three cents change; mister。〃



〃Never mind the change;〃 said Mr。 Montgomery; in a fit of

temporary generosity; occasioned by his good luck。



〃Thank you; sir;〃 said the newsboy; regarding Mr。 Montgomery as a

philanthropist worthy of his veneration。



Felix Montgomery leaned back in his seat; and; with a benevolent

smile; ran his eyes over the columns of the Express。  Among the

paragraphs which attracted his attention was one relating to a

comrade; of similar profession; who had just been arrested in

Albany while in the act of relieving a gentleman of his

pocketbook。



〃Jerry always was a bungler;〃 said Mr。 Montgomery; complacently;

to himself。  〃He can't hold a candle to me。  I flatter myself

that I know how to manage a little affair; like this; for

instance; as well as the next man。  It'll take a sharp detective

to lay hold of me。〃



It might have been thought that the manner in which he had gained

possession of the ring would have troubled Mr。 Montgomery; but it

was many years since he had led an honest life。  He had made a

living by overreaching others; and his conscience had become so

blunted as to occasion him little trouble。  He appeared to think

that the world owed him a living; and that he was quite justified

in collecting the debt in any way he could。



About twenty minutes brought the car to Amity street and Mr。

Montgomery signaled the conductor; and; the car being stopped; he

got out。



He walked a few rods in a westerly direction; and paused before a

three…story brick house; which appeared to have seen better days。



It was now used as a boarding; or rather lodging…house。  The

guests were not of a very high character; the landlady not being

particular as long as her rent was paid regularly。  Mr。

Montgomery ascended the steps in a jaunty way; and; opening the

door with a passkey; ascended the front staircase。  He paused

before a room on the third floor; and knocked in a peculiar

manner。



The door was opened by a tall woman; in rather neglected attire。



〃So you're back;〃 she said。



〃Yes; my dear; home again。  As the poet says; 'There is no place

like home。' 〃



〃I should hope there wasn't;〃 said Mrs。 Montgomery; looking about

her disdainfully。  〃A very delightful home it makes with such a

charming prospect of the back yard。  I've been moping here all

day。〃



〃You've found something to console you; I see;〃 said her husband;

glancing at the table; on which might be seen a bottle of brandy;

half…emptied; and a glass。



〃Yes;〃 said Mrs。 Montgomery; 〃I felt so bad I had to send out for

something。  It took every cent I had。  And; by the way; Mrs。

Flagg sent in her bill; this morning; for the last two weeks'

board; she said she must have it。〃



〃My dear;〃 said Mr。 Montgomery; 〃she shall have it。〃



〃You don't mean to say you've got the money; Tony!〃  exclaimed

his wife; in surprise。



〃No; I haven't got the money; but I've got what's just as good。〃



〃What have you got?〃



〃What do you say to this?〃 and Mr。 Montgomery drew from his

pocket the diamond ring; whose loss was so deeply felt by our

hero。



〃Is that genuine?〃 asked the lady。



〃It's the real thing。〃



〃What a beauty!  Where did you get it?〃



〃It was kindly presented me by a young man of the tender age of

fifteen or thereabouts; who had no further use for it。〃



〃You did him out of it; that is。  Tell me how you did it。〃



Mr。 Montgomery told the story。  His wife listened with interest

and appreciation。



〃That was a smart operation; Tony;〃 she said。



〃I should say it was; Maria。〃



〃How much is the ring worth?〃



〃Two hundred and fifty dollars。〃



〃Can you get that for it?〃



〃I can get that for it。〃



〃Tony; you are a treasure。〃



〃Have you just found that out; my dear?〃







CHAPTER XX



THE THIEF IN DISGUISE



It will be inferred; from the preceding conversation; that Mrs。

Montgomery was not likely to be shocked by the lack of honesty in

her husband。  Her conscience was as elastic as his; and she was

perfectly willing to help him spend his unlawful gains。



〃How soon are you going to sell the ring?〃 she asked。  



〃I should like to dispose of it at once; Maria。〃



〃You will need to。  Mrs。 Flagg wants her bill paid at once。〃



〃I quite understand the necessity of promptness; my dear。  Only;

you know; one has to be cautious about disposing of articles

obtained in this way。〃



〃You say you left the boy locked up。  It seems to me; you'd

better sell the ring before he has a chance to get out and

interfere。〃



〃I don't know but you're right; my dear。  Well; we'll get ready。〃



〃Do you want me to go with you?〃



〃Yes; it will disarm suspicion if you are with me。  I think I'll

go as a country parson。〃



〃Country parsons are not apt to have diamond rings to dispose

of。〃



〃Very true; my dear。  The remark does credit to your good

judgment and penetration。  But I know how to get over that。〃



〃As how?〃



〃Be a little more particular about your speech; my dear。 

Remember; you are a minister's wife; and must use refined

expressions。  What is easier than to say that the ring was given

me by a benevolent lady of my congregation; to dispose of for the

benefit of the poor?〃



〃Well thought of; Tony。  You've got a good head…piece。〃



〃You're right; my dear。  I don't like to indulge in self…praise;

but I believe I know a thing or two。  And now for the masquerade。



Where are the duds?〃



〃In the black trunk。〃



〃Then we'd better lose no time in putting them on。〃



Without describing the process of transformation in detail; it

will be sufficient to say that the next twenty minutes wrought a

decided change in the appearance of Mr。 and Mrs。 Felix

Montgomery。  The former was arrayed in a suit of canonical black;

not of the latest cut。  A white neckcloth was substituted for the

more gaudy article worn by the jeweler from Syracuse; and a pair

of silver…bowed spectacles; composed of plain glass; lent a

scholarly air to his face。  His hair was combed behind his ears;

and; so far as appearance went; he quite looked the character of

a clergyman from the rural districts。



〃How will I do; my dear?〃 he asked; complacently。



〃Tiptop;〃 answered the lady。  〃How do I look?〃



Mrs。 Montgomery had put on a dress of sober tint; and scant

circumference; contrasting in a marked manner with the mode then

prevailing。  A very plain collar encircled her neck。  Her hands

were incased in brown silk gloves; while her husband wore black

kids。  Her bonnet was exceedingly plain; and her whole costume

was almost Quaker…like in its simplicity。



Her husband surveyed her with satisfaction。



〃My dear;〃 he said; 〃you are a fitting helpmeet for the Rev。 Mr。

Barnes; of Hayfield Centre。  By Jove; you do me credit!〃



〃 'By Jove' is not a proper expression for a man of your

profession; Mr。 Barnes;〃 said the new minister's wife; with a

smile。



〃You are right; my dear。  I must eschew profanity; and cultivate

a decorous style of speech。  Well; are we ready?〃



〃I am。〃



〃Then let us set forth on our pilgrimage。  We will imagine; Mrs。

Barnes; that we are about to make some pastoral calls。〃



They emerged into the street。  On the way downstairs they met

Mrs。 Flagg; the landlady; who bowed respectfully。  She was

somewhat puzzled; however; not knowing when they were let in。



〃Good…morning; madam;〃 said Mr。 Barnes。  〃Are you the landlady of

this establishment?〃



〃Yes; sir。〃



〃I have been calling on one of your lodgersMr。 Anthony Blodgett

(this was the name by which Mr。 Felix Montgomery was known in the

house)。  He is a very worthy man。〃



Now; to tell the truth; Mrs。 Flagg had not been particularly

struck by the moral worth of her lodger; and this testimony led

her to entertain doubts as to the discernment of her clerical

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