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lavengro-第84部分

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taking any notice of the concluding part of my speech。



'A book;' said I。



'Let me see it。'



'Nay; brother;' said the precise man; 'this will never do; if we 

once adopt the system of barter; we shall have all the holders of 

useless rubbish in the town applying to us。'



'I wish to see what he has brought;' said the other; 'perhaps 

Baxter; or Jewell's APOLOGY; either of which would make a valuable 

addition to our collection。  Well; young man; what's the matter 

with you?'



I stood like one petrified; I had put my hand into my pocket … the 

book was gone。



'What's the matter?' repeated the man with the lion countenance; in 

a voice very much resembling thunder。



'I have it not … I have lost it!'



'A pretty story; truly;' said the precise…looking man; 'lost it!  

You had better retire;' said the other。



'How shall I appear before the party who intrusted me with the 

book?  She will certainly think that I have purloined it; 

notwithstanding all I can say; nor; indeed; can I blame her; … 

appearances are certainly against me。'



'They are so … you had better retire。'



I moved towards the door。  'Stay; young man; one word more; there 

is only one way of proceeding which would induce me to believe that 

you are sincere。'



'What is that?' said I; stopping and looking at him anxiously。



'The purchase of a Bible。'



'Purchase!' said I; 'purchase!  I came not to purchase; but to 

barter; such was my instruction; and how can I barter if I have 

lost the book?'



The other made no answer; and turning away I made for the door; all 

of a sudden I started; and turning round; 'Dear me;' said I; 'it 

has just come into my head; that if the book was lost by my 

negligence; as it must have been; I have clearly a right to make it 

good。'



No answer。



'Yes;' I repeated; 'I have clearly a right to make it good; how 

glad I am! see the effect of a little reflection。  I will purchase 

a Bible instantly; that is; if I have not lost … ' and with 

considerable agitation I felt in my pocket。



The prim…looking man smiled:  'I suppose;' said he; 'that he has 

lost his money as well as book。'



'No;' said I; 'I have not'; and pulling out my hand I displayed no 

less a sum than three half…crowns。



'Oh; noble goddess of the Mint!' as Dame Charlotta Nordenflycht; 

the Swede; said a hundred and fifty years ago; 'great is thy power; 

how energetically the possession of thee speaks in favour of man's 

character!'



'Only half…a…crown for this Bible?' said I; putting down the money; 

'it is worth three'; and bowing to the man of the noble features; I 

departed with my purchase。



'Queer customer;' said the prim…looking man; as I was about to 

close the door … 'don't like him。'



'Why; as to that; I scarcely know what to say;' said he of the 

countenance of a lion。







CHAPTER XLVI







The pickpocket … Strange rencounter … Drag him along … A great 

service … Things of importance … Philological matters … Mother of 

languages … Zhats!



A FEW days after the occurrence of what is recorded in the last 

chapter; as I was wandering in the City; chance directed my 

footsteps to an alley leading from one narrow street to another in 

the neighbourhood of Cheapside。  Just before I reached the mouth of 

the alley; a man in a greatcoat; closely followed by another; 

passed it; and; at the moment in which they were passing; I 

observed the man behind snatch something from the pocket of the 

other; whereupon; darting into the street; I seized the hindermost 

man by the collar; crying at the same time to the other; 'My good 

friend; this person has just picked your pocket。'



The individual whom I addressed; turning round with a start; 

glanced at me; and then at the person whom I held。  London is the 

place for strange rencounters。  It appeared to me that I recognised 

both individuals … the man whose pocket had been picked and the 

other; the latter now began to struggle violently; 'I have picked 

no one's pocket;' said he。  'Rascal;' said the other; 'you have got 

my pocket…book in your bosom。'  'No; I have not;' said the other; 

and; struggling more violently than before; the pocket…book dropped 

from his bosom upon the ground。



The other was now about to lay hands upon the fellow; who was still 

struggling。  'You had better take up your book;' said I; 'I can 

hold him。'  He followed my advice; and; taking up his pocket…book; 

surveyed my prisoner with a ferocious look; occasionally glaring at 

me。  Yes; I had seen him before … it was the stranger whom I had 

observed on London Bridge; by the stall of the old apple…woman; 

with the cap and cloak; but; instead of these; he now wore a hat 

and greatcoat。  'Well;' said I; at last; 'what am I to do with this 

gentleman of ours?' nodding to the prisoner; who had now left off 

struggling。  'Shall I let him go?'



'Go!' said the other; 'go!  The knave … the rascal; let him go; 

indeed!  Not so; he shall go before the Lord Mayor。  Bring him 

along。'



'Oh; let me go;' said the other:  'let me go; this is the first 

offence; I assure ye … the first time I ever thought to do anything 

wrong。'



'Hold your tongue;' said I; 'or I shall be angry with you。  If I am 

not very much mistaken; you once attempted to cheat me。'



'I never saw you before in all my life;' said the fellow; though 

his countenance seemed to belie his words。



'That is not true;' said I; 'you are the man who attempted to cheat 

me of one…and…ninepence in the coach…yard; on the first morning of 

my arrival in London。'



'I don't doubt it;' said the other; 'a confirmed thief'; and here 

his tones became peculiarly sharp; 'I would fain see him hanged … 

crucified。  Drag him along。'



'I am no constable;' said I; 'you have got your pocket…book; … I 

would rather you would bid me let him go。'



'Bid you let him go!' said the other almost furiously; 'I command … 

stay; what was I going to say?  I was forgetting myself;' he 

observed more gently; 'but he stole my pocket…book; … if you did 

but know what it contained。'



'Well;' said I; 'if it contains anything valuable; be the more 

thankful that you have recovered it; as for the man; I will help 

you to take him where you please; but I wish you would let him go。'



The stranger hesitated; and there was an extraordinary play of 

emotion in his features:  he looked ferociously at the pickpocket; 

and; more than once; somewhat suspiciously at myself; at last his 

countenance cleared; and; with a good grace; he said; 'Well; you 

have done me a great service; and you have my consent to let him 

go; but the rascal shall not escape with impunity;' he exclaimed 

suddenly; as I let the man go; and starting forward; before the 

fellow could escape; he struck him a violent blow on the face。  The 

man staggered; and had nearly fallen; recovering himself; however; 

he said;
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