"Please touch nothing! I might tell you that I recognize you. You stole a handkerchief of mine some days back.”
He laughed. He had good white teeth, and though his face was far from handsome, it was attractive.
"You think that extremely funny, I gather," said Carolan coldly.
"I find it extremely gratifying that you should know me again.”
"I should have thought it would be merely embarrassing ... for a thief I' "Will you believe me," he said, 'if I tell you that that was my one and only lapse?”
"No!”
"But you are cruel!”
"I hope I am not a fool.”
"Do I look like a common thief?”
"I do not know how a common thief should look. I only know you are one.”
"You are brutal...”
"Do you think an honest man would be tempted to steal a girl's handkerchief just because it was a pleasant and dainty affair?”
"He might because she was a pleasant and dainty affair!”
She flushed angrily.
"Sir! You are offensive.”
"My manners are rough, but my heart is soft," he said.
"I assure you the theft of the handkerchief was my only lapse.”
"Then you had better return it.”
He looked sad.
"No!" she cried.
"You have doubtless disposed of it to a fellow criminal! I should be obliged if you will leave this shop, but not before you have turned out your pockets to show me that you are taking none of my father's goods with you.”
"What a spitfire you are! But a fine daughter to your father, I'll be bound.”
"I shall very certainly not allow him to be robbed under my nose.”
"And it is such a charming nose!”
Turn out your pockets, sir!”
"And if I say no, what then, lady?" He stretched out his arm. Feel those muscles; feel those biceps! I'll warrant you have nothing like it.”
"Do not dare to touch me.”
"Certainly I would not presume to touch your ladyship.”
"Then turn out your pockets.”
"Before you make me ?”
"I am not joking. I warn you that sooner or later you will end up in Newgate.”
"Ah, who can be sure that that evil fate does not await him!”
"An honest man can. Now. pray. sir. turn out your pockets and be gone.”
He thrust his hands into his pockets. He began laying out the contents on a small table: a clasp knife, a leather purse, a bandanna handkerchief. As he did so he looked at her puckishly, as though consumed with some private mirth which, try as he might, he could not repress.
"You say that an honest man need not fear the dark shadow of Newgate.” he said.
"Never be too sure of that! Newgate is an octopus; it stretches out ugly tentacles to catch the unwary.”
To catch the dishonest," she said.
"Hurry.”
"I would like to talk of that one lapse.”
"But I am not interested.”
"It is a mistake not to be interested in your fellow men.”
"It is a mistake to listen to the tales of robbers.”
"You are harsh. Sad that such harshness should exist behind that lovely face of yours!”
"Do not think that your absurd flattery moves me in the least.”
"Flattery? It is not flattery. Come, do you ever use your mirror?”
She began to laugh suddenly.
"You are amused?”
"Enormously. You speak the language of thieves: those very words were said to me by a cheat in an inn parlour just before she relieved me of my purse.”
"A purse is a purse. A handkerchief is a very different matter.”
"I see no difference.”
"Would you believe me if I told you I have preserved that handkerchief, that I look at it often and think of you?”
"No," said Carolan.
"Pray take up your things and be gone.”
The next time we meet I shall convince you.”
There will be no next time.”
"Do not be sure of that.”
"I am absolutely sure.”
"It is never wise to be sure of anything in this world. How old are you?”
"A most impertinent question which I shall certainly not answer.”
"Not yet seventeen, I'll warrant. Do you know how old I am?" She looked at his face now, for there was in him an irrepressible charm which, in spite of distrust, she could not ignore. She saw that his face was as brown as a berry, and wrinkled, but not with age; his teeth were good; and his smile and his merry eyes made a pleasant thing of his rather ugly face.
Thirty years old, I'd say," she answered.
"Old enough to have trained your hands to keep off property which does not belong to them.”
"Twenty-four. That's no lie, and it surprises you. I do not wonder at that, for it is not the number of years that leave their mark upon the face, but the contents of them.”
The shop door opened to admit Darrell. He stared at the pair of them for a moment; then advanced into the shop.
"Why, Marcus!”
"Darrell... my old friend!" They clasped hands.
"I was not expecting you," said Darrell.
"A chance call, that is all. Your charming daughter and I have been making each other's acquaintance. But I for one should be glad of a more formal introduction.”
"Why yes," said Darrell, still looking a trifle dazed.
"My daughter, Carolan. Carolan, Mr. Marcus Markham.”
"You did not say you knew my father," said Carolan with an angry glint in her eyes.
"I was coming to that," he told her; his smile was broad and yet secret.
"You did not give me much time, you know.”
"Well, come in! Come in!" said Darrell.
"I did want to buy a ring I see there. A gold ring, is it not? And of good workmanship? Perhaps Miss Carolan will serve me.”
"Certainly I will," said Carolan. Darrell said: "You will eat with us?
What is there, Carolan?”
"Boiled mutton with caper sauce ... but not ready for half an hour.”
"You will stay, Marcus?”
Marcus let his eyes rest on Carolan.
"Wild horses would not drag me away, Darrell my friend! But pray do not disturb yourself about this little matter of the ring. Go on in; take off your boots; take off your coat. Miss Carolan and I will settle about the ring.”
Darrell said: "As you will," and went in.
Carolan looked up into the man's face.
"Why did you not tell me you were a friend of my father?”
"I did not think you would believe me.”
Tell me, are you a thief?”
The stealing of your handkerchief was my only lapse.”
"But that makes you a thief!”
"Indeed it does. Shall you denounce me?”
"How can I... for such a paltry thing?" She began to laugh.
"I suppose you think I am a foolish creature.”
"I think you are a charming creature.”
"And a spitfire! You said that.”
"Such an honest little spitfire! No, my dear, you were angry in a good cause... I like you for it.”
"Well then, shall we forget the whole stupid business?”
"Forget it! I shall never forget my first meeting with you. Instead we will say that the stormy beginning of our friendship is over. There is a trite saying that sunshine is brighter after the storm, but like most trite sayings it is true.”
"I am sorry for jumping to conclusions. What did you think when I asked you to turn out your pockets? And you a guest, a friend of my father's!”
"I thought it fun.”
Did you think it fun to steal my handkerchief?”
"Certainly fun with a smack of danger in it. Men have hanged by the neck for stealing a handkerchief!”
"I see. I am, you notice, from the country. London ways are very new to me.”
"You are the sweeter for that.”
"You wish to see a ring... was this it?”
"It was. Slip it on your finger that I may see the effect.”