I will correct my error at once, for if the mayor should happen to invite me to dinner some time, very likely he would reproach me for my neglect." Having thus resolved to preserve his credit with the chief magistrate of the city, there was fortunately a lull in the waves of the Messrs.
Sand & Co.'s affairs which enabled him to be absented for half an hour without serious injury to their business.

He hastened to the pawnbroker's at which the robbery had been committed.
"I presume you know me, sir ?" said Simon.
"I haven't that honor," replied the broker.
"Perhaps you may be able to recall the circumstance of a little girl presenting herself here with a silver watch." "Well, I do." "I was with her." "Then I suppose you helped her steal it." "Such an insinuation, sir, is unworthy a gentleman, I have come, sir, with a benevolent purpose, as I came before.

In half an hour the history of that transaction will be conveyed to the mayor who, allow me to inform you, is my friend." "Your friend!" sneered the broker who was not particularly impressed by the magnificent manners and the magnificent speech of Master Simon.
"The little girl has just gone with a note from Mrs.Gordon of Temple Street to seek redress of the mayor.

I doubt not you will be prosecuted at once.

You have an opportunity to save yourself." "What do you mean by that, you young puppy ?" said the broker, angrily.
"Do you mean to say I stole the watch ?" "By no means; only that you took what did not belong to you," replied Master Simon, blandly.
"Get out of my shop!" "Understand me, sir; I come as your friend." "You are a fool, I believe." "You have an undoubted right to your opinion, as I have to mine; but if you do not restore the watch within half an hour, you will be arrested for stealing--I beg your pardon, for taking what did not belong to you." There was something in the earnest manner of Simon which arrested the attention of the broker, in spite of the former's high-flown speech.