“Hold on, sir,” he cried, “I am accompanying that gentleman to his lodging.”
“Nay, Doctor,” whispered the landlord, who was a friend of his, “the fellow is a brawler—he will involve you in a quarrel before you reach the Strand.”
“Nevertheless, I will go, my friend,” said Oliver. “The lady has laid it upon me as a duty, and I must obey her at all hazards.”
He got into the coach, and shouted out the address to the driver.
CHAPTER XXV.
The instant he had seated himself he found to his amazement that the man beside him was fast asleep. To look at him lying in a heap on the cushions one might have fancied that he had been sleeping for hours rather than minutes, so composed was he. Even the jolting of the starting coach made no impression upon him.
Goldsmith perceived that the moment for which he had been longing had arrived. He felt that if he meant to get the letters into his possession he must act at once.
He passed his hand over the man's waistcoat, and had no difficulty in detecting the exact whereabouts of the packet which he coveted. All he had to do was to unbutton the waistcoat, thrust his hand into the pocket, and then leave the coach while it was still in motion.