Plot Summary
The narrator is driving a brand new BMW car, when he picks up a hitch-hiker. The hitch-hiker says that he is going to Epsom for the races because it is Derby Day. The hitch-hiker does not reveal why he was going there but says that he is not going to bet on horses as he thinks that is a very silly business. The author poses numerous queries, which remind the hitch-hiker that he used to get very irritated in his earlier hitch-hiking days, when the drivers used to ask him too many questions. The narrator settles the matter by stating that he is a writer, and all writers are terrible nosey parkers.
The hitch-hiker shares that he is in a very skilled trade. He also asks the author what the top speed of the car is, to which the author replies: 129 mph. The hitch-hiker thinks he is lying, and challenges the author to drive his car at its full speed and prove it.
They reach a stretch of flat even road, and the driver opens up the throttle. He reaches 120 mph just as a police officer pulls him over. The officer threatens the driver with a lengthy prison sentence, and gives him a fine. The officer asks the hitch-hiker for his address and occupation, at which time the hitch-hiker explains that he is a hod-carrier. The police officer says he will be checking up on them both, and tells them to go on their way.
After this meeting, the author is very worried because of what the policeman's threat. The author then asks the hitch-hiker why he lied to the policeman about being a hod-carrier, when he told the author that he was a skilled tradesman. The hitch-hiker doesn't reply, and within five seconds rolls a cigarette and puts it into his mouth.
The author notices the speed at which the hitch-hiker completed the task and asks him how he does it. The hitch-hiker credits his long, slim, fantastic fingers. They seemed to be able to do anything, according to the author.
Then, the pickpocket takes out many things from his pocket which belonged to the author. He had stolen all these items without detection by the author; thus, the author thinks that he's a pickpocket.
The hitch-hiker replies that a pickpocket is a very coarse and vulgar word and they only do amateur jobs such as stealing things from the blind or old ladies. He says that he is a fingersmith. He calls himself that because a goldsmith and a silversmith were called so because they were experts with gold and silver. Similarly, he is an expert with his fingers.
The hitch-hiker also brags that he never gets caught. He tells the author that he has stolen the policeman's diary, so they do not have to worry about being checked up by the officer at the station.
This impresses the author, which makes the latter feel great about being appreciated. They then decide to stop on the side of the road and make a bonfire with the policeman's stolen diaries.
Read more about this topic: The Hitch-Hiker (short Story)
Famous quotes containing the words plot and/or summary:
“The plot was most interesting. It belonged to no particular age, people, or country, and was perhaps the more delightful on that account, as nobody’s previous information could afford the remotest glimmering of what would ever come of it.”
—Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
“Product of a myriad various minds and contending tongues, compact of obscure and minute association, a language has its own abundant and often recondite laws, in the habitual and summary recognition of which scholarship consists.”
—Walter Pater (1839–1894)