CHAPTER XX
THE THIEF IN DISGUISE
It will be inferred, from the preceding conversation, that Mrs.Montgomery was not likely to be shocked by the lack of honesty in herhusband. Her conscience was as elastic as his; and she was perfectlywilling to help him spend his unlawful gains.
"How soon are you going to sell the ring?" she asked.
"I should like to dispose of it at once, Maria."
"You will need to. Mrs. Flagg wants her bill paid at once."
"I quite understand the necessity of promptness, my dear. Only, youknow, one has to be cautious about disposing of articles obtained inthis way."
"You say you left the boy locked up. It seems to me, you'd better sellthe ring before he has a chance to get out and interfere."
"I don't know but you're right, my dear. Well, we'll get ready."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"Yes; it will disarm suspicion if you are with me. I think I'll go as acountry parson."
"Country parsons are not apt to have diamond rings to dispose of."
"Very true, my dear. The remark does credit to your good judgment andpenetration. But I know how to get over that."
"As how?"
"Be a little more particular about your speech, my dear. Remember, youare a minister's wife, and must use refined expressions. What is easierthan to say that the ring was given me by a benevolent lady of mycongregation, to dispose of for the benefit of the poor?"
"Well thought of, Tony. You've got a good head-piece."
"You're right, my dear. I don't like to indulge in self-praise, but Ibelieve I know a thing or two. And now for the masquerade. Where are theduds?"
"In the black trunk."
"Then we'd better lose no time in putting them on."
Without describing the process of transformation in detail, it will besufficient to say that the next twenty minutes wrought a decided changein the appearance of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Montgomery. The former wasarrayed in a suit of canonical black, not of the latest cut. A whiteneckcloth was substituted for the more gaudy article worn by the jewelerfrom Syracuse, and a pair of silver-bowed spectacles, composed of plainglass, lent a scholarly air to his face. His hair was combed behind hisears, and, so far as appearance went, he quite looked the character of aclergyman from the rural districts.
"How will I do, my dear?" he asked, complacently.
"Tiptop," answered the lady. "How do I look?"
Mrs. Montgomery had put on a dress of sober tint, and scantcircumference, contrasting in a marked manner with the mode thenprevailing. A very plain collar encircled her neck. Her hands wereincased in brown silk gloves, while her husband wore black kids.Her bonnet was exceedingly plain, and her whole costume was almostQuaker-like in its simplicity.
Her husband surveyed her with satisfaction.
"My dear," he said, "you are a fitting helpmeet for the Rev. Mr. Barnes,of Hayfield Centre. By Jove, you do me credit!"
"'By Jove' is not a proper expression for a man of your profession, Mr.Barnes," said the new minister's wife, with a smile.
"You are right, my dear. I must eschew profanity, and cultivate adecorous style of speech. Well, are we ready?"
"I am."
"Then let us set forth on our pilgrimage. We will imagine, Mrs. Barnes,that we are about to make some pastoral calls."
They emerged into the street. On the way downstairs they met Mrs. Flagg,the landlady, who bowed respectfully. She was somewhat puzzled, however,not knowing when they were let in.
"Good-morning, madam," said Mr. Barnes. "Are you the landlady of thisestablishment?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have been calling on one of your lodgers--Mr. Anthony Blodgett (thiswas the name by which Mr. Felix Montgomery was known in the house). Heis a very worthy man."
Now, to tell the truth, Mrs. Flagg had not been particularly struck bythe moral worth of her lodger, and this testimony led her to entertaindoubts as to the discernment of her clerical visitor.
"You know him, then?"
"I know him as myself, madam. Have you never heard him mention the nameof Rev. Mr. Barnes, of Hayfield Centre, Connecticut?"
"I can't say I have," answered the landlady.
"That is singular. We were always very intimate. We attended the sameschool as boys, and, in fact, were like Damon and Pythias."
Mrs. Flagg had never heard of Damon and Pythias, still she understoodthe comparison.
"You're in rather a different line now," she remarked, dryly.
"Yes, our positions are different. My friend dwells in the busymetropolis, while I pass a quiet, peaceful existence in a secludedcountry village, doing what good I can. But, my dear, we are perhapsdetaining this worthy lady from her domestic avocations. I think we mustbe going."
"Very well, I am ready."
The first sound of her voice drew the attention of the landlady. Mrs.Felix Montgomery possessed a thin somewhat shrill, voice, which shewas unable to conceal, and, looking attentively at her, Mrs. Flaggpenetrated her disguise. Then, turning quickly to the gentleman, aidedby her new discovery, she also recognized him.
"Well, I declare," said she, "if you didn't take me in beautifully."
Mr. Montgomery laughed heartily.
"You wouldn't know me, then?" he said.
"You're got up excellent," said Mrs. Flagg, with a slight disregard forgrammar. "Is it a joke?"
"Yes, a little practical joke. We're going to call on some friends andsee if they know us."
"You'd do for the theatre," said the landlady, admiringly.
"I flatter myself I might have done something on the stage, if myattention had been turned that way. But, my dear, we must be moving, orwe shan't get through our calls."
"I wonder what mischief they are up to now," thought Mrs. Flagg, as shefollowed them to the door. "I know better than to think they'd take thetrouble to dress up that way just to take in their friends. No, they'reup to some game. Not that I care, as long as they get money enough topay my bill."
So the worldly-wise landlady dismissed them from her thoughts, and wentabout her work.
Mr. Barnes and his wife walked up toward Broadway at a slow, decorouspace, suited to the character they had assumed. More than one who metthem turned back to look at what they considered a perfect type ofthe country minister and his wife. They would have been not a littlesurprised to learn that under this quiet garb walked two of the mostaccomplished swindlers in a city abounding in adventurers of all kinds.
Mr. Barnes paused a moment to reprove a couple of urchins who werepitching pennies on the sidewalk.
"Don't you know that it's wrong to pitch pennies?" he said gravely.
"None of your chaff, mister," retorted one of the street boys,irreverently. "When did you come from the country, old Goggles?"
"My son, you should address me with more respect."
"Just get out of the way, mister! I don't want to hear no preachin'."
"I am afraid you have been badly brought up, my son."
"I ain't your son, and I wouldn't be for a shillin'. Just you go along,and let me alone!"
"A sad case of depravity, my dear," remarked Mr. Barnes to his wife. "Ifear we must leave these boys to their evil ways."
"You'd better," said one of the boys.
"They're smart little rascals!" said Mr. Montgomery, when they were outof hearing of the boys. "I took them in, though. They thought I was thegenuine article."
"We'd better not waste any more time," said his wife. "That boy mightget out, you know, and give us trouble."
"I don't believe he will get out in a hurry. I locked the door and he'dhave to pound some time before he could make any one hear, I declare, Ishould like to see how he looked when he recovered from his stupor, andrealized that his ring was gone."
"What sort of boy was he, Tony?"
"Better not call me by that name, my dear. It might be heard, you know,and might not be considered in character. As to your question, he was byno means a stupid boy. Rath
er sharpish, I should say."
"Then how came he to let you take him in?"
"As to that, I claim to be rather sharp myself, and quite a match evenfor a smart boy. I haven't knocked about the world forty-four years fornothing."
They were now in Broadway. Turning the corner of Amity street, theywalked a short distance downtown, and paused before the handsome jewelrystore of Ball & Black.
"I think we had better go in here," said Felix Montgomery--(I hesitate alittle by which of his numerous names to call him).
"Why not go to Tiffany's?"
"I gather from what the boy told me that the ring has already beenoffered there. It would be very likely to be recognized and that wouldbe awkward, you know."
"Are you sure the ring has not been offered here? asked his wife.
"Quite sure. The boy would have mentioned it, had such been the case."
"Very well. Let us go in then."
The Rev. Mr. Barnes and his wife, of Hayfield Centre; entered theelegant store, and ten minutes later Paul Hoffman entered also, and tookhis station at the counters wholly unconscious of the near proximity ofthe man who had so artfully swindled him.