Sometimes we detectives have moments of despondency. As the world is made, thieves, robbers, and murderers will persevere,—it is their nature; and the more they achieve, the more they would. They are artists inspired by their art. On the other side, we must progress as well. We are the checks to nature when she gets rampant, and a little out-o’-sides; and we are vexed when she gets ahead of us. The charges on the side of our books against honesty had been—I am speaking of August 1845—getting heavier and heavier; and Mr Moxey was nervous, because I was not bringing a per contra. Yet I was as keen in the nose, eye, and ear as ever; and never allowed a glimpse, sniff, or whisper to go without its proper attention and response. The artists were buzzing about me like blue-bottles, attacking fresh and stale, and yet their wings were unsinged. No wonder I was a little out of humour that day. I was walking down the High Street, with never a hope of a transportation to transport me, or a suspension to hang up my disappointment. My flies, to use my old simile, were either unsuited to the sky or the water, or they were known, though they were changed from the red-hackle of my anger to the palmer of my humility.

On my way, I happened to fix my eye on Mrs Bushe, (before, Miss Noel,) hurrying up the High Street. Ah! there is an actress, as I am an actor; yet how different our deserts! She transports, so do I. She charms by singing, I by swinging. No great difference in what learned people call the literal way, yet how wide asunder in reality ! Her friends applaud her, and throw money at her; mine curse me, and would starve me. Nor was I altogether pleased with old Mother Providence, for I had a notion that I did as much good in my way as she. Will any man, more knowing than I, account for such thoughts, brought up by a passing vision ? I had seen Mrs Bushe before, and never thought of such things; and why should I now, merely because the lady looked a little more excited than she was when singing “ Nidnoddin’,” or “ Auld Robin Gray¹ ?” I fear I would get no answer; nor do I wish any, for I’ve been long satisfied that there are things in the world—even my own leadings and wonderful chances, as they are called— which your very wise gentry could make no more of than my poor self. Still sauntering, with my aide-de-camp behind me, I could scarcely get quit of my regrets at these young gamesters on every side of me, who made such a difference between me, by allowing me no influence over them, and her, whom they went with their stolen shillings to hear every night in the “ gods’ ” yonder, while I was among blue devils. I had got to the Bridge, had crossed, and was for down to the Canongate, where the stream, always turbid, with a shadow from the high sides, gives hope to the moral angler; and just as I passed the mouth of Halkerston’s Wynd, the next to the Bridge on the left hand going down, I saw a clot of my celebrities standing a good way within it. No doubt they had arrived there by the stair behind the Theatre,—at least that was my thought,—and by and by they would emerge at the top. A glance satisfied me they were examining something. I beckoned my assistant— “ Down, and take a man with you, by the stairs by Adam Black’s old shop,—get to the foot of the close, and there keep sentry. There’s a nest in the middle of the close, and let none escape your way.” The man was off, and next I hailed two of the High Street perambulators— “ You stand here, each on a side ; and if you see any young celebrities come running up the close, grip ’em, and hold fast till I come.” “ All right, sir.” Giving time for my scout by the stairs, I walked down the close. The students of the piece of art which so claimed their attention were still there; and so studious were they, with all their heads huddled together,—so like Mr Faed²’s scholars over the school- master’s watch, busy taking down the works, all the while the dominie, with birch in hand, was looking in at the school door,—that they did not see my face until it was presented over the shoulder of him who held the object—no other than a splendid jewel-box, filled with gold chains, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, rings, and other bijouterie, which made even my eyes reel. Down went the lid with a click of the steel spring, and off flew the students in rays from all this glory. I seized, of course, him who held the treasure,—an old friend, who had given me as much pain by his prudence as he did others by his imprudence. As for the others, the bags of the net were ready, each with its cul-de-sac; and the harder they ran, the greater the bang against the woven hemp. Two went up and two down, and the fifth was mine, jewel-box and all.

When I got to the top of the close, I found each policeman with his charge; and, looking down, I saw my assistant and his companion coming up, equally engaged with their couple. A few minutes brought us together, as lovingly as the different feelings of the parties would permit. So we all marched on, with a gathering crowd about us, to the office. But here comes the mystery. We had scarcely passed the Bridge, when whom do I see coming down in front of us?—the same lady, Mrs Bushe, whom I had met as I came down. I looked at her again, but was now in no humour for dreary comparisons. Nor did she look less intensely at me. How is this, thought I; is there any sympathy between this artist and me? And still she looked, with her eye fixed upon my jewel-box. Nor was this all, for she made her way through the crowd, and approaching me, said—

“ Oh, you’ve got it ? How clever! ”
“ What ? ” said I, as I went along, for I couldn’t stop.
“ The box.”
“ Yes; I have got a box.”
“ My box.” “ Your box, madam ? I do not know; but if you will have the kindness to follow up, I will speak to you at the office.” She fell back, and no doubt kept close to us. We are landed. Having delivered my men, Captain Moxey came up to me, joined by this time by the lady.
“ God bless me, M’Levy,” said the Captain, “ you got no notice, did you ? I sent a man after you, but he came back and said he couldn’t find you.”
“ I got no notice, but I’ve got the box, and a very valuable one it is.”
“ Why, you must have met Mrs Bushe as she came up to give information of the robbery of her jewel-box.” “ I did meet the lady, but she did not speak to me.”
“ No,” said she, laughing with delight at the sight of her jewels all safe. “ I didn’t know Mr M‘Levy, though I’ve heard his name, otherwise I would have claimed his services. But, good heavens! it seems like magic. Where got you it ? ”
“ I have not only got your jewels, madam, but my jewels—ay, five of them—and very bright ones, too; true diamonds,—sharp, cutting, and extremely fine set-offs to detectives like me.”
“But are they all there?—let us see,” she said, anxiously, even nervously.

And opening the box, she scanned over the contents all so carefully, as if they had been darlings, as no doubt they were. “Not a ring amissing !” she cried, exultingly; “wonderful interposition of Providence! for they are worth more than a hundred pounds, and many of them I am to wear this very night on the stage. You must take a ticket, Mr M’Levy, from me, for I would like you to be in the pit to-night, just to hear with what spirit I shall sing—

” And, laughing again, she thanked me, and went away, with Captain Moxey’s promise that the box would be sent after her, when an inventory was made, that she might sign.

But somehow the laugh of the lady was not joined in by those who admired jewels as much as she, and not the less that they were not their own. Nor am I sure that they ever overcame the sad disappointment, not even after the Sheriff congratulated them upon the jury’s verdict of guilty, upon which followed the distribution among them of the months,—three getting six; one, nine; and another, twelve. After which they might still study those envied trinkets from the gods, as they did before those from the devils.

1. Auld Robin Gray is a ballard about the hardships faced by women. See the words of Auld Robin Gray ↩︎
2. John Faed was an artist born in Gatehouse of Fleet where Mclevy worked. See his artworks ↩︎