'Has your mistress lost a parasol?
One has been found--' I did not finish the sentence, for I perceived by her look that her mistress had met with such a loss, and as this was all I wanted to know just then, I cried out, 'I will bring it.
If it is hers, all right,' and bounded down the steps.
"My intention was to inform you of what I had done and ask your advice.
But my egotism got the better of me.

I felt that I ought to make sure that I was not the victim of a coincidence.

Such a respectable house! Such a respectable maidservant! Should she recognize the parasol as belonging to her mistress, then, indeed, I might boast of my success.

So praying you for a loan of this article, I went back and rang the bell again.

The same girl came to the door.