1831.] Too Early. 621 



sufficiently promising : there was no one there on the lines of whose 

 countenance seemed to be written, " I can pity and feel for the igno- 

 rance of a Yokshireman." While he was in this state of hesitation, a 

 beauishly-dressed young gentleman of amazingly insinuating address 

 approached him. 



" I beg your pardon, sir," said the new comer — " you seem to be a 

 stranger ; perhaps you have lost your party." 



" No, sir," quoth Purvis, " I have no party to lose : but, perhaps, 

 you will be so good as to inform me " 



His further utterance was interrupted by the stranger jolting sud- 

 denly against him in such a manner as to bring the sharp point of his 

 elbow full into the pit of the Yorkshireman's stomach, the natural result 

 of which was so sudden a dismission of the vital air from his interior, 

 that his speech of inquiry came to a conclusion perforce ; and he stood, 

 gasping like a fish when, in lieu of water, it has nothing but the thin 

 atmosphere to draw in ; while his new acquaintance hastily pronounced, 

 " Ten thousand pardons, sir ; this infernal piece of orange-peel nearly 

 threw me off my legs. — Ah ! egad, there goes Will ! — Will Smith ! 

 Will Smith ! — Pray excuse me — a particular friend. I must follow 

 him !" — and away shot Mr. Purvis's new acquaintance with a rapidity 

 that was really delectable to behold. 



While this quiet little scene had been passing between these two, the 

 pit-lobby had been gradually filling ; and, a moment after the disap- 

 pearance of Will Smith's friend, Purvis heaftl a gruff voice at no great 

 distance from him exclaim, " Take care of your pockets, ladies and 

 gentlemen \" 



" Good Heavens ! — Pockets ! — My watch !" quoth the Yorkshire 

 gentleman ; and, as he spoke, he pressed his hand on his fob. Alas ! 

 it was all "fiat and vmprofitable." Will Smith's particular friend had 

 ejected the timepiece at the same moment that he had ejected the breath 

 from Master Henry Purvis's body. 



But there might yet be time to save it ; and, at the thought, ]\Ir. Purvis 

 rushed forth, to the infinite detriment of an old lady and gentleman 

 who were just entering the door ; and as he ran along, hardly knowing 

 which way he went, he bellowed " Stop thief!" at the loudest height 

 of his stentorian lungs. 



The cry of " stop thief" once raised in London, and no man shall tell 

 where it may end. A thousand echoes seemed to rise in answer to 

 Mr. Purvis's shout. Drury-lane, Russell-street, Vinegar-yard, Bridges- 

 street, Covent-gai-den-market, Bow-street, and Broad-court, aU rang in 

 unison, and nothing was heard but "Stop thief! stop thief ! stop thief!" 

 — while scores, guilty and guiltless, were to be seen running in every 

 direction. As to our hero, he followed the direction of his genius at 

 the height of his speed ; and, just as he turned into Hart-street, he 

 began to think that he caught a glimpse of the gentleman who had 

 absconded with his watch. Desirable thought ! — and at its coming 

 again, he roared most lustily, " Stoj) thief!" — Yes, it certainly was the 

 runaway wliom he liad in sight : — he presses on him — lie nearly reaches 

 him: the pursued turns abruptly into a narrow court : I\Ir. Purvis turns 

 afler liim, confident tliat at lengtli lie has caught him ; — when, lo ! he 

 finds himself caught full in a policeman's arms. 



After puffing half a minute for breath enough to speak — " There he 

 goes !" (pioth iMr. Purvis. 



