Just then, Mr. Cobb rushed up and seized Harkaway rudely by the arm.
"Hello!" exclaimed Jack. "What's the matter with you? Has every one got a mania for jostling me to-night?"
"My wallet, my wallet!" cried Mr. Cobb.
Jack shook off his grasp and drawing himself up proudly looked him sternly in the face.
"My good sir," he said, "be kind enough to explain yourself."
"You have stolen my wallet. I saw you do it."
This was a stretch of imagination on the part of the produce merchant, but he relied on what Bambino had told him.
"Do I look like a—a thief?" inquired Jack, not knowing whether to get angry or not, and feeling inclined to regard Mr. Cobb as a harmless lunatic.
"No," admitted the merchant, "but gentlemanly thieves are the most dangerous."
Jack turned inquiringly to Harvey.