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Chapter 6
Ihadrunshortofcash—Ihintedvaguelyataspree—andIwasprettywellonmyupperswhenIhadcomeonaholeinahedge,and,lookingthrough,hadseenabigmotor-carlyingintheburn.Ihadpokedabouttoseewhathadhappened,andhadfoundthreesovereignslyingontheseatandoneonthefloor.Therewasnobodythereoranysignofanowner,soIhadpocketedthecash.Butsomehowthelawhadgotafterme.WhenIhadtriedtochangeasovereigninabaker’sshop,thewomanhadcriedonthepolice,andalittlelater,whenIwaswashingmyfaceinaburn,Ihadbeennearlygripped,andhadonlygotawaybyleavingmycoatandwaistcoatbehindme.
“Theycanhavethemoneyback,”Icried,“forafatlotofgoodit’sdoneme.Thoseperishersarealldownonapoorman.Now,ifithadbeenyou,guv’nor,thathadfoundthequids,nobodywouldhavetroubledyou.”
“You’reagoodliar,Hannay,”hesaid.
Iflewintoarage.“Stopfooling,damnyou!Itellyoumyname’sAinslie,andIneverheardofanyonecalledHannayinmyborndays.I’dsoonerhavethepolicethanyouwithyourHannaysandyourmonkey-facedpistoltricks....No,guv’nor,Ibegpardon,Idon’tmeanthat.I’mmuchobligedtoyouforthegrub,andI’llthankyoutoletmegonowthecoast’sclear.”
Itwasobviousthathewasbadlypuzzled.Youseehehadneverseenme,andmyappearancemusthavealteredconsiderablyfrommyphotographs,ifhehadgotoneofthem.IwasprettysmartandwelldressedinLondon,andnowIwasaregulartramp.
