? ? ? ? " 'Ah, that is only my wife,' cried the commissionaire; 'has no one else passed?'
? ? ? ? " 'No one.'
? ? ? ? " 'Then it must be the other way that the thief took,' cried the fellow, tugging at my sleeve.
? ? ? ? "But I was not satisfied, and the attempts which he made to draw me away increased my suspicions.
? ? ? ? " 'Which way did the woman go?' I cried.
? ? ? ? " 'I don't know, sir. I noticed her pass. but I had no special reason for watching her. She seemed to be in a hurry.'
? ? ? ? " 'How long ago was it?'
? ? ? ? " 'Oh, not very many minutes.'
? ? ? ? " 'Within the last five?'
? ? ? ? " 'Well, it could not be more than five.'
? ? ? ? " 'You're only wasting your time, sir, and every minute now is of importance,' cried the commissionaire; 'take my word for it that my old woman has nothing to do with it and come down to the other end of the street. Well, if you won't, I will.' And with that he rushed off in the other direction.
? ? ? ? "But I was after him in an instant and caught him by the sleeve.
? ? ? ? " 'Where do you live?' said I.
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