At six o'clock he remembered that he had not eaten since breakfast; he dined extravagantly, and afterwards fell asleep in the smoking-room of the restaurant.

A waiter with difficulty aroused him, and persuaded him to try the effect of the evening air.

An hour later he sank in exhaustion on one of the benches near the river, and there slept profoundly until stirred by a policeman.
"What's the time ?" was his inquiry, as he looked up at the starry sky.
He felt for his watch, but no watch was discoverable.

Together with the gold chain it had disappeared.
"Damnation! someone has robbed me." The policeman was sympathetic, but reproachful.
"Why do you go to sleep on the Embankment at this time of night?
Lost any money ?" Yes, his money too had flown; luckily, only a small sum.

It was for the loss of his watch and chain that he grieved; they had been worn for years by his father, and on that account had a far higher value for him than was represented by their mere cost.
As a matter of form, he supplied the police with information concerning the theft.