After he had thus somewhat assuaged his emotion, he began to look about
him and read the names of the streets at whose intersection he had been
deserted by the gardener. He was still in an unfrequented portion of
West London, among villas and large gardens; but he could see some
persons at a window who had evidently witnessed his misfortune; and
almost immediately after a servant came running from the house and
offered him a glass of water. At the same time, a dirty rogue, who had
been slouching somewhere in the neighbourhood, drew near him from the
other side.
“Poor fellow,” said the maid, “how vilely you have been handled, to be
sure! Why, your knees are all cut, and your clothes ruined! Do you know
the wretch who used you so?”
“That I do!” cried Harry, who was somewhat refreshed by the water; “and
shall run him home in spite of his precautions. He shall pay dearly for
this day’s work, I promise you.”
“You had better come into the house and have yourself washed and
brushed,” continued the maid. “My mistress will make you welcome, never
fear. And see, I will pick up your hat. Why, love of mercy!” she
screamed, “if you have not dropped diamonds all over the street!”
Such was the case; a good half of what remained to him after the
depredations of Mr. Raeburn, had been shaken out of his pockets by the
summersault and once more lay glittering on the ground. He blessed his
fortune that the maid had been so quick of eye; “there is nothing so
bad but it might be worse,” thought he; and the recovery of these few
seemed to him almost as great an affair as the loss of all the rest.
But, alas! as he stooped to pick up his treasures, the loiterer made a
rapid onslaught, overset both Harry and the maid with a movement of his
arms, swept up a double handful of the diamonds, and made off along the
street with an amazing swiftness.
Harry, as soon as he could get upon his feet, gave chase to the
miscreant with many cries, but the latter was too fleet of foot, and
probably too well acquainted with the locality; for turn where the
pursuer would he could find no traces of the fugitive.
In the deepest despondency, Harry revisited the scene of his mishap,
where the maid, who was still waiting, very honestly returned him his
hat and the remainder of the fallen diamonds. Harry thanked her from
his heart, and being now in no humour for economy, made his way to the
nearest cab-stand and set off for Eaton Place by coach.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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