I took care to be about the doors when the performance was over, and the crowd come out. It was a crowd!
A lot of swells had come over from the West-end to show their respect for the manager, and we couldn’t find cabs enough for them. I was standing on the kerb, hailing the hansoms one after the other, when I see a gentleman cross the road, to get one for himself on the other side.
He was a middle-aged man, very handsome and dignified in appearance, and well dressed. We policemen see so much of all sorts that we know a well-dressed man at a glance.
This gentleman had a black cloth cape cloak over his evening clothes, all lined with black satin, and as it flew open I could see the glitter of his gold watch chain, and the flash of the diamond solitaire in his shirt front. He had hailed a hansom, and was standing by the wheel telling the driver, I fancy, where to go to, when another man rushed across the road and thrust himself in front of the gentleman, crying out, “Hi! cabby, are you engaged?”
The cabman said “Yes,” and the first gentleman jumped into the cab and drove off; but not before I had seen the other pass his hand quickly under the loose cape and draw out something, that glittered for a moment as he thrust it in his own pocket.
As he did so, the cab dashed out of sight, and he turned his face towards the lamplight. I recognized Rummles, and guessed at once that he had taken the gentleman’s watch. I was after him like a streak of lightning. “I saw you this time, my lad,” I cried, as I cut across the road, and at the sound of my voice he began to run.
Lord! how that fellow did run! Talk of greased lightning! It wasn’t in it with Rummles. He went like a hare down the Mile End-road, darting in and out of the crowd, and doubling, whenever I gained upon him.
One moment I would think I had lost him altogether, and the next, I would see him scudding before the wind on the opposite side of the way.
At last, when I was almost inclined to give up the chase, who should I come upon, outside the Aldgate Station, but my gentleman himself, leaning—as free and easy as you like—against the wall, not a bit blown, but quietly striking a match on the heel of his boot to light his cigar with, whilst Nick and Nan, who seemed to have been to the theayter too, was standing by, talking and laughing with him. I grasped him pretty roughly by the shoulder.
“So I’ve caught you at last!” I said, as I give him a shake. “Now! just hand over that watch, will you, and come along to the station with me.”