"This boy has just purloined a ring from my wife," said Mr.
Montgomery. "Fortunately I caught him in the act."
"Give up the ring, you young scoundrel!" said the officer,
imposed upon by the clerical appearance of the adventurer.
"It is mine," said Paul.
"None of your gammon! Give up the ring, and come with me."
The ring was restored to Mr. Montgomery, who overwhelmed the
officer with a profusion of thanks.
"It is not a diamond, only an imitation," he said, "but my wife
values it as the gift of a friend. Don't be too hard on the boy.
He may not be so bad as he seems."
"I'll attend to him," said the policeman, emphatically. "I'll
learn him to rob ladies of rings in the street. Come along,
sir!"
Paul tried to explain matters, but no attention was paid to his
protestations. To his anger and mortification he saw the
swindler make off triumphantly with the ring, while he, the
wronged owner, was arrested as a thief.
But at the station-house he had his revenge. He was able to
prove to his captor that he had lodged information against Mr.
Montgomery, and the policeman in turn was mortified to think how
readily he had been imposed upon. Of course Paul was set free,
but the officer's blundering interference seemed to render the
recovery of the ring more doubtful than ever.
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