Part 1 (1/2)
Frivolities.
by Richard Marsh.
The purse which was found
I.
The first applicant arrived just as I was sitting down to breakfast. I went out to him in the hall at once. He was tall, thin, and distinctly seedy.
”I have called with reference to the advertis.e.m.e.nt of the purse which was found.” I bowed. He seemed to hesitate. ”I have lost a purse.” He looked as if he had--long years ago. ”I have reason to believe that it is my purse which you have found. I shall be happy to hand you the cost of your advertis.e.m.e.nt on your returning me my property.”
”When did you lose it?”
My question seemed to escape his notice.
”I am a clergyman in the Orders of the Church of England, and the inscrutable laws of the Divine Benevolence have placed me in a position which makes such a loss a matter of cardinal importance.”
”Where did you lose it?”
”In town, sir--in town.”
”In what part of town?”
”In the west, sir--in the west.”
”Do you mean in the western postal district?”
”My topographical knowledge of this great city is scarcely sufficient to enable me to enter into such minutiae.” He a.s.sumed an air of candour which ill became him. ”I will be frank with you. I do not know where I lost it. The shock of the loss was so great as to make of my mind a _tabula rasa_. I have an appointment at some distance from here in less than half an hour. Might I ask you to give me my property without any unnecessary delay?”
”With pleasure, on your describing it.”
”Unfortunately there again you have me at a disadvantage. The purse was my daughter's, lent to me only for the day. I have not preserved a sufficiently clear mental picture to enable me to furnish you with an adequate description.”
”But your daughter can?”
”Precisely, if she were in town. But she is not in town. And it is of paramount importance that I should at once regain possession of the property. If you will allow me to look at it I shall be able to tell at a glance if it is mine.”
”I am afraid that I must request you to describe the purse lost before I show you the one I found.”
He drew himself up.
”I trust, sir, that your words are not intended to convey a reflection?”
”Not at all. Only, as I have not breakfasted, and you have an appointment to keep, it might be as well if you were at once to communicate with your daughter, and request her to favour you with the necessary description.”
”Excuse me, sir, but you mistake your man. I am a gentleman, sir, like you--a university man, sir. I came here to regain possession of my property; you are in possession of that property; until you return it to me I do not intend to quit this house.” As he had suddenly raised his voice, and evinced symptoms of raising it higher, I opened the front door by way of a hint. On the doorstep stood one of the unemployed, the remnant of a woollen m.u.f.fler twisted round his neck.
”Beg pardon, guv'nor, I've come for my purse.”