登陆注册
5239300000061

第61章 II. - THE ARTFUL TOUCH

'One of the most BEAUTIFUL things that ever was done, perhaps,' said Inspector Wield, emphasising the adjective, as preparing us to expect dexterity or ingenuity rather than strong interest, 'was a move of Sergeant Witchem's. It was a lovely idea!

'Witchem and me were down at Epsom one Derby Day, waiting at the station for the Swell Mob. As I mentioned, when we were talking about these things before, we are ready at the station when there's races, or an Agricultural Show, or a Chancellor sworn in for an university, or Jenny Lind, or anything of that sort; and as the Swell Mob come down, we send 'em back again by the next train. But some of the Swell Mob, on the occasion of this Derby that I refer to, so far kidded us as to hire a horse and shay; start away from London by Whitechapel, and miles round; come into Epsom from the opposite direction; and go to work, right and left, on the course, while we were waiting for 'em at the Rail. That, however, ain't the point of what I'm going to tell you.

'While Witchem and me were waiting at the station, there comes up one Mr. Tatt; a gentleman formerly in the public line, quite an amateur Detective in his way, and very much respected. "Halloa, Charley Wield," he says. "What are you doing here? On the look out for some of your old friends?" "Yes, the old move, Mr. Tatt."

"Come along," he says, "you and Witchem, and have a glass of sherry." "We can't stir from the place," says I, "till the next train comes in; but after that, we will with pleasure." Mr. Tatt waits, and the train comes in, and then Witchem and me go off with him to the Hotel. Mr. Tatt he's got up quite regardless of expense, for the occasion; and in his shirt-front there's a beautiful diamond prop, cost him fifteen or twenty pound - a very handsome pin indeed. We drink our sherry at the bar, and have had our three or four glasses, when Witchem cries suddenly, "Look out, Mr. Wield! stand fast!" and a dash is made into the place by the Swell Mob - four of 'em - that have come down as I tell you, and in a moment Mr. Tatt's prop is gone! Witchem, he cuts 'em off at the door, I lay about me as hard as I can, Mr. Tatt shows fight like a good 'un, and there we are, all down together, heads and heels, knocking about on the floor of the bar - perhaps you never see such a scene of confusion! However, we stick to our men (Mr. Tatt being as good as any officer), and we take 'em all, and carry 'em off to the station.' The station's full of people, who have been took on the course; and it's a precious piece of work to get 'em secured.

However, we do it at last, and we search 'em; but nothing's found upon 'em, and they're locked up; and a pretty state of heat we are in by that time, I assure you!

'I was very blank over it, myself, to think that the prop had been passed away; and I said to Witchem, when we had set 'em to rights, and were cooling ourselves along with Mr. Tatt, "we don't take much by THIS move, anyway, for nothing's found upon 'em, and it's only the braggadocia, (2) after all." "What do you mean, Mr. Wield?" says Witchem. "Here's the diamond pin!" and in the palm of his hand there it was, safe and sound! "Why, in the name of wonder," says me and Mr. Tatt, in astonishment, "how did you come by that?"

"I'll tell you how I come by it," says he. "I saw which of 'em took it; and when we were all down on the floor together, knocking about, I just gave him a little touch on the back of his hand, as I knew his pal would; and he thought it WAS his pal; and gave it me!"

It was beautiful, beau-ti-ful!

'Even that was hardly the best of the case, for that chap was tried at the Quarter Sessions at Guildford. You know what Quarter Sessions are, sir. Well, if you'll believe me, while them slow justices were looking over the Acts of Parliament, to see what they could do to him, I'm blowed if he didn't cut out of the dock before their faces! He cut out of the dock, sir, then and there; swam across a river; and got up into a tree to dry himself. In the tree he was took - an old woman having seen him climb up - and Witchem's artful touch transported him!'

同类推荐
  • 佛说咒目经

    佛说咒目经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 拳学要义

    拳学要义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 嘉兴寒食

    嘉兴寒食

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • HECUBA

    HECUBA

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 颐庵文选

    颐庵文选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 琅嬛记

    琅嬛记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 九州灵域记

    九州灵域记

    人皇南宫槊的离奇失踪,皇城外的起兵叛乱,皇城内的血腥杀戮,九州大陆的危急?……南宫泽携带至宝天书,是否能成长起来,发觉真相,拯救苍生?
  • 以爱之名,见血封喉

    以爱之名,见血封喉

    三年前,他说,“欣然,如果活着回去,我们就结婚。”三年后,他们结婚,她却成了他最厌恶的女人,他说:“穆欣然,就算结婚,你永远别妄想我会爱上你!”她在婚姻的围城中苦苦坚持,得到的却是无穷无尽的伤害。当她终于提笔签下离婚协议书的时候,他却亲手打破,只为把她留在身边,“穆欣然,这辈子,你都别想离开我!”
  • 法藏碎金录诗话辑录

    法藏碎金录诗话辑录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 你不可不读的中华典故

    你不可不读的中华典故

    成语,是汉语中对复杂语义的高度凝练与概括。并且大多数成语背后都有一段广为流传的故事,或伟岸磅礴,或快乐活泼,或风情万种,或诙谐幽默,但故事背后更多的,则是意味深长的哲理和文化。本书取材广泛,着重选取实用性强,同时对读者具有启发和教育意义的成语故事,引导孩子们了解每一个成语中蕴涵的道理,从而培养孩子掌握语言的能力,正确引导他们如何做事,如何做人。
  • 废世救赎

    废世救赎

    另类世界,蛊惑人生。由一个故事衍生开去。
  • 心愿的小店

    心愿的小店

    本店贩卖各种愿望,只要我做得到,刀山火海我也要帮你实现。一一杜希彦。(店主)我只负责事后分钱,其余的一律不管,好吧,其实我才是大老板,什么心愿只是我一句话的事。一一蓝若水(老板娘)
  • 都市全能巨星

    都市全能巨星

    一个大学生被全能巨星系统绑定,获得了另一个平行时空无数的娱乐资源支持。然后,他以大学生运动会为起点,拿奥运冠军,破世界纪录,在体育、文艺、影视、歌曲等各个领域全面发展,最后成为在各个领域都碾压其他明星的世界级天王巨星!新书《重生之全能首富》已发布,求收藏、求推荐票支持!已完本小说《七冠王》、《一品美食》!
  • 永字八法

    永字八法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 爱情牛奶糖

    爱情牛奶糖

    299道恋爱自测题,让你看清爱情的真相,为迷途羔羊指点爱情迷津,为分手达人洞悉性感内幕,告别剩女频繁的倒霉相亲,终结花痴MM的博爱时代,还有,和没完没了的烂桃花SAY GOODBYE,爱情的魔力、运动、魅力,让我们轻易掌控,TAKE IT EASY。