The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'TooleMaxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
General
The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'Toole
Maxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
As I quitted the Coach and Horses, I remarked a man drawn up in a corner
of the gateway, and standing in a position that intimated he wished to
escape my notice. He wore a white hat, and, from rather a remarkable
coat, I easily recognised him to be one of the men I had disturbed at
play, when I entered the back room in search of Mr. Pilch. Well, he
might have some private reasons for concealment; and it was no atfair in
which I had any interest. I strolled onwards towards London Bridge, and
happening to pass the shop of an out-litter, I stepped in to make some
purchases for my voyage. The selection of different articles delayed me
half an hour. Once I observed the man with the white hat pass the door;
and again, I detected him peeping through the window. He was probably
an idler; and I continued to purchase what I wanted in the shop. The
articles were tied up; the account written and presented; I handed the
shopman a five-pound note; he desired me to endorse it. I took the pen,
and wrote a fictitious name, as I had determined to drop that on which
I had brought so much obloquy and disgrace already. The man handed some
change in silver, and I took up the parcel, and left the shop.
I had nearly reached the extremity of the bridge when I heard footsteps
behind, and perceived several men running in the direction in which I
was walking. They came up rapidly; and, in another minute, I was
seized, pushed into a shop, and charged with felony. My identity was
certain--the parcel confirmed it; and, to my horror, I heard the captors
accuse me of passing a forged note. The charge astounded me; I could not
speak, and my silence was mistaken for a tacit acknowledgment of guilt.
I turned my eyes in mute despair at the men who surrounded me. By
Heaven! one of them was the white-hatted stranger, who had been playing
at cards with Mr. Pilch! It was providential, he could corroborate the
statement I commenced. He had seen me--was a friend of Mr. Pilch--his
evidence would be invaluable. I told the manner in which the money was
obtained. My statement elicited a laugh of derision from the hearers.
I appealed to the gentleman in the white hat, but the gentleman in the
white hat disclaimed all knowledge of me, and goodnaturedly added,
that he fancied he had seen me once before, at a fair he mentioned, in
company with a party of the swell mob. My pockets were searched. Nothing
to criminate me further was found. I casually looked round, and
saw “White-hat” wink at-an officer, and point significantly to my
handkerchief. It was instantly loosed and opened. My name was worked
upon it in the dark hair of my faithless mistress; and five other notes
were found; they were examined--and all of them pronounced forgeries!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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