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第26章

paul the peddler-第26章

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the ring。  〃Can I get anything for the lady?〃



〃No; thank you。  The best thing to do is to get her into the open

air。  Thank you for your kindness。〃



〃Let me help you;〃 said the clerk; and coming from behind the

counter he took one arm of Mrs。 Montgomery; who; leaning heavily

on her husband and the clerk; walked; or rather was carried; to

the street door。



Of course; the attention of all within the store was drawn to the

party。



〃What was the matter?〃 inquired a fellow…clerk; as the salesman

returned。



〃It was a clergyman from Connecticut; who wished to sell a

diamond ring; given to him for charitable purposes。  His wife was

taken suddenly sick。  He will bring it back to…morrow。〃



〃Was the ring a valuable one?〃



〃It must be worth in the neighborhood of three hundred dollars。〃



Paul listened to this explanation; and a sudden light flashed

upon him; as he heard the estimated value of the ring。  There had

been something familiar in the appearance of the adventurer;

though; on account of his successful disguise and his being

accompanied by a lady; he had not before felt any suspicion as to

his identity with the man who had swindled him。  Now he felt

convinced that it was Mr。 Felix Montgomery; and that it was his

own appearance which had led to the sudden sickness and the

precipitate departure。



〃That trick won't work; Mr。 Montgomery;〃 he said to himself。 

〃I've got on your track sooner than I anticipated; and I mean to

follow you up。〃



Reaching the sidewalk; he caught sight of Mr。 and Mrs。 Montgomery

just turning the corner of a side street。  The pair supposed they

were safe; not thinking that our hero had recognized them; and

the lady no longer exhibited illness; and was walking briskly at

her husband's side。  Paul hurried up and tapped the adventurer on

the shoulder。  Mr。 Montgomery; turning; was annoyed on finding

that he had not yet escaped。  He determined; however; to stick to

his false character; and deny all knowledge of the morning's

transaction。



〃Well; my young friend;〃 he said; 〃do you want me?  I believe I

have not the pleasure of your acquaintance。〃



〃You are mistaken there; Mr。 Felix Montgomery;〃 said Paul;

significantly。



〃By what name did you address me?〃 said the swindler; assuming a

tone of surprise。



〃I addressed you as Mr。 Felix Montgomery。〃



〃You have made a mistake; my good friend。  I am an humble

clergyman from Connecticut。  I am called the Rev。 Mr。 Barnes。 

Should you ever visit Hayfield Centre; I shall be glad to receive

a call from you。〃



〃When I last met you; you were a jeweler from Syracuse;〃 said

Paul; bluntly。



Mr。 Montgomery laughed heartily。



〃My dear;〃 he said; turning to his wife; 〃is not this an

excellent joke?  My young friend here thinks he recognizes in me

a jeweler from Syracuse。〃



〃Indeed; you are quite mistaken;〃 said the lady。  〃My husband is

a country minister。  We came up to the city this morning on a

little business。〃



〃I understand on what business;〃 said Paul。  〃You wanted to

dispose of a diamond ring。〃



Mr。 Montgomery was disposed to deny the charge; but a moment's

reflection convinced him that it would be useless; as Paul had

doubtless been informed in Ball & Black's of his business there。 

He decided to put on a bold front and admit it。



〃I suppose you were in Ball & Black's just now;〃 he said。



〃I was。〃



〃And so learned my business there?  But I am at a loss to

understand why you should be interested in the matter。〃



〃That ring is mine;〃 said Paul。  〃You swindled me out of it this

morning。〃



〃My young friend; you must certainly be insane;〃 said Mr。

Montgomery; shrugging his shoulders。  〃My dear; did you hear

that?〃



〃He is an impudent boy;〃 said the lady。  〃I am surprised that you

should be willing to talk to him。〃



〃If you leave here I will put a policeman on your track;〃 said

Paul。



He looked so determined that Mr。 Montgomery found that he must

parley。



〃You are under a strange hallucination; my young friend;〃 he

said。  〃If you will walk along with me; I think I can convince

you of your mistake。〃



〃There is no mistake about the matter;〃 said Paul; walking on

with them。  〃The ring is mine; and I must have it。〃



〃My dear; will you explain about the ring?  He may credit your

testimony。〃



〃I don't see that any explanation is necessary;〃 said the lady。 

〃However; since you wish it; I will say that the ring was handed

you by Mrs。 Benton; a wealthy lady of your parish; with

instructions to sell it; and devote the proceeds to charitable

purposes。〃



〃Is that explanation satisfactory?〃 asked Mr。 Montgomery。



〃No; it is not;〃 said Paul; resolutely。  〃I don't believe one

word of it。  I recognize you in spite of your dress。  You gave me

chloroform this morning in a room in Lovejoy's Hotel; and when I

was unconscious you made off with the ring which I expected to

sell you。  You had better return it; or I will call a policeman。〃



〃I am not the person you take me for;〃 said Felix Montgomery。



〃You are the jeweler from Syracuse who swindled me out of my

ring。〃



〃I never was a jeweler; and never lived in Syracuse;〃 said the

adventurer; with entire truth。



〃You may be right; but that is what you told me this morning。〃



〃I wish you would go away; and cease to annoy us;〃 said the lady;

impatiently。



〃I want my ring。〃



〃We have no ring of yours。〃



〃Show me the ring; and if it is not mine I will go away。〃



〃You are a very impudent fellow; upon my word;〃 said Mrs。

Montgomery; sharply; 〃to accuse a gentleman like my husband of

taking your ring。  I don't believe you ever had one。〃



〃My dear;〃 interposed her husband; mildly; 〃I dare say my young

friend here really thinks we have his ring。  Of course it is a

great mistake。  Imagine what our friends in Hayfield Centre would

think of such a charge!  But you must remember that he is

unacquainted with my standing in the community。  In order to

satisfy his mind; I am willing to let him see the ring。〃



〃To let him see the ring?〃 repeated the lady; in surprise。



〃Yes。  Here; my lad;〃 taking the ring from his pocket; 〃this is

the ring。  You will see at once that it is not yours。〃



〃I see that it is mine;〃 said Paul; taking the proffered ring;

and preparing to go; astonished at his own good fortune in so

easily recovering it。



〃Not so fast!〃  exclaimed Mr。 Montgomery; seizing him by the

shoulder。  〃Help!  Police!〃



An officer had turned the corner just before; and it was this

that had suggested the trap。  He came up quickly; and; looking

keenly from one to the other; inquired what was the matter。



〃This boy has just purloined a ring from my wife;〃 said Mr。

Montgomery。  〃Fortunately I caught him in the act。〃



〃Give up the ring; you young scoundrel!〃  said the officer;

imposed upon by the clerical appearance of the adventurer。



〃It is mine;〃 said Paul。



〃None of your gammon!  Give up the ring; and come with me。〃



The ring was restored to Mr。 Montgomery; who overwhelmed the

officer with a profusion of thanks。



〃It is not a diamond; only an imitation;〃 he said; 〃but my wife

values it as the gift of a friend。  Don't be too hard on the boy。



He may not be so bad as he seems。〃



〃I'll attend to him;〃 said the policeman; emphatically。  〃I'll

learn him to rob ladies of rings in the street。  Come along;

sir!〃



Paul tried to explain matters; but no attention was paid to his

protestations。  To his anger and mortification he saw the

swindler make off triumphantly with the ring; while he; the

wronged owner; was arrested as a thief。



But at the station…house he had his revenge。  He was able to

prove to his captor that he had lodged information against Mr。

Montgomery; and the policeman in turn was mortified to think how

readily he had been imposed upon。  Of course Paul was se

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