Then I wait until she has had time to get to her own rooms, and go to the porter and say, 'Will you give me the name of the lady who has just come in ?'" "And do you think the porter is fool enough to do so ?" "Not a bit; I always take the precaution of having a delicate little purse in my pocket; and when the man says, as he always does, 'I don't know,' I pull out the purse, and say, 'I am sorry for that, for she dropped this as she came in, and I wanted to return it to her.' The porter at once becomes awfully civil; he gives the name and number, and up I go.

The first time I content myself with finding out if she is married or single.

If she is single, it is no go; but if the reverse, I go on with the job." "Why, what do you do next ?" "Next morning I go there, and hang about until I see the husband go out.
Then I go upstairs, and ask for the wife.

It is ticklish work then, my lads; but I say, 'Yesterday, madame, I was unlucky enough to leave my pocketbook in cab number so-and-so.

Now, as I saw you hail the vehicle immediately after I had left it, I have come to ask you if you saw my pocketbook.' The lady flies into a rage, denies all knowledge of the book, and threatens to have me turned out.