The café was generally considered by aficionados to be rather posh.
The large and rather ostentatious diamond ring sparkled on the finger of the plump fiftyish woman. She sat, sipping her coffee. The pickpocket approached with a ‘you can certainly trust me’ smile, his eyes fixed on the jewellery.
“I’m sorry to disturb you miss, but could you possibly tell me the time?”
The ring answered, “If you had the idea that you were able to remove me from my mistress’s finger, think again.”
Stunned, but still looking at the ring, he replied, “My apologies, but I seemed to have come out without my watch.”
The ring, now annoyed with the thief’s persistence, said, “You’ll no doubt be aware of the stout walking stick propped against the wall. Let me tell you that should you lay a finger on this finger my good lady will bring the said stick down heavily on your head! Now, be off with you!”
Shaking, he moved on.