Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/122

106 behind, and away goes your bundle or parcel. His companion, if he has one, interrupts the pursuit, or joining it, impedes your progress, by treading on your heels or kicking them up.

I have seen one of these shabby dogs (who were always below my cut) take off a lady's tippet in the street, at noon day; nor has she discovered it for the space of two minutes,—a time fully sufficient for his purpose, and enough to ensure his safety. I thought this trick the nearest to picking of pockets for neatness and cleverness, of any I ever saw. His plan was to loosen the tie round the neck, by getting hold of the end of the ribbon, and reaching over her shoulders point out something in the window at which she stood gaping, the bow was of course pulled through. This manœuvre passed off very well; for he held in his hand the remains of an orange, and his accomplice occasioned an agitation among the crowd at the same moment. Lifting up the lower corner of the tippet, another ribbon which fastened it round the waist, was cut, and then gently raiding it near the back of the neck, he disengaged it from all further obstacle—and bolted. It was a warm spring day, and I dare say she caught no cold.