The boy slid his fingers out of the constable’s back pocket as he felt the eyes of the crowd turn on him M-m-me sir he said pulling the flap over the mouth of his burgle-sack Who else I wonder if I might steal you away for a moment Peter did not move The Haberdasher changed his tack addressing the man beside Peter Oh constable he said Would you clear a path so the lad can pick his way through Peter’s throat went dry He listened as the burly lawman waddled past him nudging people aside with his baton You heard the fellow he said in a commanding voice Let the boy pass Everyone waited for Peter to step forward Don’t be shy lad the Haberdasher chuckled It would be criminal to leave us all hanging The man obviously knew what Peter had been up to and was threatening to expose him for his crimes Peter had no choice taking care to look harmless and clumsy he groped his way to the front of the crowd The Haberdasher grabbed his hand enthusiastically shaking it Nice to have you on board He turned back to the audience And now I have a special demonstration for you lucky folk Peter tried to get a sense of his surroundings To his right was the Haberdasher who smelled of wet wool mixed with a tinge of regret Immediately behind him was the man’s carriage pulled by a pair of no not horses Peter had robbed a sea circus when he was seven and since then had retained an excellent nose for exotic animals But what were these strange creatures Keep clear of the zebras lad They kick The crowd laughed at the good-hearted warning Peter however was far from laughing It was almost as if this man could read his mind But that was impossible Hardly the man whispered leaning close It only takes a bit of practice Peter backed away from the stranger bumping straight into his wooden carriage As he steadied himself his fingers landed on something cold metal and familiar A lock Peter’s pulse quickened If there was one thing he loved most about his job it was picking locks He considered every lock to be a personal challenge By definition locks are designed to tell you what you can’t do You can’t have the food inside this trunk You can’t escape this cellar You can’t learn what’s inside this carriage Each lock jailed a treasure that demanded to be liberated and Peter was always happy to oblige The boy ran his fingers over the dead bolt which was slick with rain It was tempered steel the sort of material used for guarding only the most valuable secrets He slid his hands farther along the door feeling for the hinge but instead he came across a thick hasp that connected to another lock And another And another The entire carriage was
covered with locks of every shape and size He smiled to himself this was suddenly getting much more interesting While Peter cased the carriage the Haberdasher spoke to the crowd The time has finally come for me to reveal a hat more amazing than all my others combined One made especially for you The people leaned forward in eager anticipation Now we all know the chief problem of living in a port town the smell How can one hope to maintain dignity in a place that forever reeks of fish There was a general murmur of agreement from the people as they sniffed the air in disdain Well reek no more The Haberdasher produced a stack of flimsy leather skullcaps These caps tanned and stretched in the purest air of the Cloudlands are guaranteed to remove all unsavory scents from their wearers The crowd broke out in astonishment Impossible you say To prove my claim I present to you an expert judge one who lives by his nose alone Peter who had been secretly studying the carriage locks with his fingers lowered his hands as he once again felt the crowd’s attention fall on him The Haberdasher took the boy’s shoulder Everybody knows that blind people have a keen olfactory sense able to detect even the faintest of odors That is precisely why I have called this young urchin to assist in my next demonstration He gently guided Peter back into the crowd If you would lad I’ll ask you to smell the constable here Peter stood motionless in front of the lawman who shifted his weight awkwardly from foot to foot Go ahead have a good sniff the Haberdasher said to the boy What does he smell like Peter could tell that the man was looking for an honest report and the truth was none too pleasant He smells like fish sir The Haberdasher gasped clearly pleased Fish you say What else Peter sniffed again And stale beer And Peter could not resist And belly wind The crowd burst into laughter at the red faced constable A toxic blend indeed the Haberdasher said Now see here the lawman blustered Keep on like that and I’ll arrest you both Before he could object further the Haberdasher offered the constable a leather cap Would you be so kind as to place one of these miraculous hats on your head The officer still blushing removed his helmet and set the cap on his bald crown He offered the crowd an embarrassed smile The Haberdasher turned back to Peter And what about now lad Peter hesitated his nose inches away from the constable’s sweating belly The man smelled exactly the same But being a clever boy Peter understood at once what the Haberdasher wanted him to say He didn’t trust the man but something deep inside him
his burglar’s instinct told him to play along And what does he smell like now the Haberdasher repeated his voice slightly more urgent Peter sniffed loudly and gasped Where’d he go He stumbled forward groping the air in mock confusion The constable was here a moment ago but now his smell has completely vanished The onlookers cheered with delight There you have it the Haberdasher said bowing What more proof do you need Hands from the crowd hurled coins at the man in order to get one of his marvelous caps As the people pushed close shoving and shouting Peter felt torn He could easily sneak away right now with what he’d already stolen It would be more than enough to appease Mr Seamus On the other hand he was also keen to find out what secret treasure lay inside that carriage While it was true that Peter did not exactly relish stealing from ordinary people the prospect of stealing from the Haberdasher seemed entirely acceptable After all wouldn’t he be helping a scoundrel get his just desserts Peter decided it might be worth his while to linger a bit longer Need any help sir he said to the man How very thoughtful The Haberdasher thrust an empty purse into the boy’s hands The bag was not canvas but thick velvet its drawstring was laced with fine thread and tiny jewels Help me collect money from these fine customers And while you’re at it he leaned close tapping the burgle-sack at Peter’s side kindly return your pickings to the pockets they came from A boy could get hanged for such things He pushed Peter into the group I’ll make sure it’s worth your while Peter wandered through the crowd collecting coins from eager customers Every time he passed someone whose wallet he’d stolen the boy replaced it before the victim could notice anything was amiss He continued in this manner until his burgle-sack was empty and the Haberdasher’s purse was full The smell was intoxicating almost too much to bear but he knew better than to touch even a single coin If this strange Haberdasher could truly read thoughts he’d catch the boy in a second Peter would just have to be patient until an opportunity presented itself When the townspeople finally dispersed all of them wearing cheap leather caps and sniffing themselves the Haberdasher returned to Peter’s side That was some fine acting earlier We made out like bandits you and I What is your name Alistair answered Peter who had learned by now never to trust strangers Is it The man took the purse from Peter’s hands Well Alistair I couldn’t help but notice your interest in my fine carriage A pity you can’t see it hmm It seems a fine carriage indeed Peter said trying to sound as pathetic and blind as possible I can smell the fresh paint Smell anything else
No sir The Haberdasher lifted one coattail and removed a large brass key ring from his belt He began opening the dozen padlocks securing his carriage door One never can be too careful The riches in this carriage could change a fellow’s lot for good Still I’ve yet to meet a thief who could best these bolts Peter smiled to himself as he listened to the click click of latches springing loose His favorite sound When the Haberdasher finished the last lock he opened his carriage and leaned inside The moment the door swung past Peter’s nose his pulse quickened He had spent ten years learning the scents of silver ivory and gems but none of those smelled half so valuable as whatever was inside that carriage While the man stashed his takings Peter put his senses to work absorbing every detail he could about the carriage how large the cabin how firm the floor how great the plunder Once finished the Haberdasher closed the carriage door and refastened all of the locks Safe and sound he said dusting his hands And don’t think I forgot about you Here’s something for your trouble He tossed out a small coin which Peter caught midair The man gave an impressed whistle Those are some reflexes you have there With a touch like that who needs eyes Peter turned the coin over in his fingers It was made of heavy metal and had a hole cut into its center I’d give my hands up in a heartbeat if it meant I could see he said Yes I’m sure you would the Haberdasher murmured softly For a moment Peter heard something tighten in the man’s throat before he coughed and clapped his palms together Listen Alistair I’m dying for a drink Would you mind watching my carriage whilst I slake my thirst in the tavern The contents are very special and I wouldn’t want the wrong person to get his hands on them Peter could not believe it was going to be this easy Well I suppose I could Splendid I knew I could trust you he called already on his way When the Haberdasher reached the porch of the alehouse he turned back regarding the boy from a distance It was an honor to work with you Peter Nimble I pray we meet again soon And so saying he tipped his cap s and disappeared through the door It took the better part of an hour for Peter to pick the locks on the Haberdasher’s carriage When he did finally manage to break inside he found the purse just as the Haberdasher had left it It was spilling over with coins enough money to satisfy Mr Seamus for a month But then something else caught his attention As he reached for the jewel-encrusted bag his arm brushed against a plain wooden box no bigger than a loaf of bread There was no filigree or ornament adorning the lid only a small brass lock Peter touched the
