that when I came near my brother's door, which was in a
place they called Swan Alley, I met three or four women with
high-crowned hats on their heads; and, as I remembered afterwards, one,
if not more, had some hats likewise in their hands. But as I did not see
them come out at my brother's door, and not knowing that my brother had
any such goods in his warehouse, I did not offer to say anything to
them, but went across the way to shun meeting them, as was usual to do
at that time, for fear of the plague. But when I came nearer to the
gate, I met another woman, with more hats, come out of the gate. "What
business, mistress," said I, "have you had there?"--"There are more
people there," said she. "I have had no more business there than they."
I was hasty to get to the gate then, and said no more to her; by which
means she got away. But just as I came to the gate, I saw two more
coming across the yard, to come out, with hats also on their heads and
under their arms; at which I threw the gate to behind me, which, having
a spring lock, fastened itself. And turning to the women, "Forsooth,"
said I, "what are you doing here?" and seized upon the hats, and took
them from them. One of them, who, I confess, did not look like a thief,
"Indeed," says she, "we are wrong; but we were told they were goods that
had no owner: be pleased to take them again. And look yonder: there are
more such customers as we." She cried, and looked pitifully: so I took
the hats from her, and opened the gate, and bade them begone, for I
pitied the women indeed. But when I looked towards the warehouse, as she
directed, there were six or seven more, all women, fitting themselves
with hats, as unconcerned and quiet as if they had been at a hatter's
shop buying for their money.

I was surprised, not at the sight of so many thieves only, but at the
circumstances I was in; being now to thrust myself in among so many
people, who for some weeks I had been so shy of myself, that, if I met
anybody in the street, I would cross the way from them.

They were equally surprised, though on another account. They all told me
they were neighbors; that they had heard any one might take them; that
they were nobody's goods; and the like. I talked big to them at first;
went back to the gate and took out the key, so that they were all my
prisoners; threatened to lock them all into the warehouse, and go and
fetch my lord mayor's officers for them.

They begged heartily, prot