Part 5 (1/2)
”Good-day.”
Oscar elevated his gla.s.ses to his eyes and stared at the man in true dude style, and Cad recoiled as though shocked at being addressed by a stranger.
”I beg your pardon, my friend,” said Oscar, ”I haven't the pleasure of your acquaintance.”
”Oh, you haven't?”
”No, I can't say that I ever saw you before.”
”Is that so?”
”Indeed it is true, my friend.”
”What a pity! why, we are old friends.”
The thief's pals were drawing near.
”You are mistaken, my friend,” said Oscar, adding: ”And I must kindly request you to move off and not disturb us.”
The man haw-hawed in a rough manner and said:
”Well, you are playing it nice.”
”I do not understand your allusion, sir. It is very vulgar--yes, sir, very vulgar.”
”Is it, indeed? Why, you rat, do you think I do not recognize you?”
”You certainly do not recognize me. I never saw you before in my life.”
”He! he! ha! ha! that's great, my covie; yes, that's great. So you never saw me before? Well, well, I've seen you often enough. I was looking at your portrait only yesterday.”
”You were looking at my portrait only yesterday?” repeated Oscar.
”Yes.”
”Where on earth did you see my portrait?”
”In the rogues' gallery--number one hundred and three. Yes, yes, you rascal, I've run you down nicely; but see here, you and that girl appear to be enjoying yourselves and I don't wish to spoil your enjoyment. I am a gentleman, I am, and you can buy me off.”
At this moment the rogue's pals approached, and the fellow turning toward them said:
”See here, this 'ere rat is pretending he don't know us. Eh! ain't that cool of him? And we have been a-follerin' of him this last two months and now we've caught him a-spendin' of the swag, and he's a-puttin' on airs. I say, miss, mebbe you don't know the character of the chappie who's a-spendin' his money on you so free. Mebbe you don't know he's a thief, and it's a part of his swag that you are having a fine time on; but I don't begrudge--no, I don't--the money that's gone, but youse must hand over the balance, or I'll be compelled to do my duty and take youse both in. Yes. I'll have to do my duty.”
”My friend, you are evidently laboring under a great mistake.”
”Am I now?”
”You certainly are.”