Part 19 (1/2)
”But he doesn't believe he's here now, does he, Bunny?”
”Shouldn't wonder if he does, Master Waller. He ar'n't so stupid as he looks. He's as cunning as he is fat. A lot of the fox in him. It's you as ought to have the money, seeing that it was only right when you found him, and have fed the Frenchy beggar ever since.”
”But who else is likely to know?”
”Haw! Haw!” laughed the man, shaking with pure enjoyment at what seemed to him one of the greatest jokes in the world. ”You have never seen him. You ar'n't got him chained up to your work-bench up in your room!
Oh, no! But I say, Master Waller, you can fib when you like!”
”How dare you!” cried Waller angrily. ”How have I fibbed or lied to you? Didn't I own it to you directly, sir, as soon as I was sure you knew?”
”Oh, well, I suppose you did, Master Waller. Beg pardon! Don't be waxy with me, lad.”
”Here, tell me who is likely to know.”
”Why, Joe Hanson, like as anybody, I should say. If I had bin him I know I should soon have had the forty-round apple ladder up agen your window to see what you were about.”
”Anyone else?” cried Waller.
”Ay. Old Fatty Gusset, as aforesaid; old cobbler!”
”But you haven't dropped a hint, Bunny?”
”Dropped a hint! Na-ay! I'd sooner drop his old lapstone on his toe.”
”Look here, Bunny!” cried Waller, catching the man by the wrist, while an inquisitive-looking robin hopped nearer to them from twig to twig, and sat watching them both with its bright, bead-like eyes.
”Look wheer, my lad?”
”Look here! You don't want fifty pounds.”
”Oh, don't I! Hark at him!” cried the man, laughing, and addressing the robin.
”Why, what good would it be to you?”
”What good, lad? Why, I'd have a noo thick weskit, a plush un, before the winter come--a red un like his'n,” and he nodded towards the robin.
”Bah! Nonsense!”
”Nay, it ar'n't, lad. Them red uns are strange and warm, and lies down like feathers. Then there's boots. I'd like a pair of the stoutest and thickest lace-up waterproofers as I could get--not a pair of old Fatty's cobbling, but real down good uns, out of Southampton's town.”
”Yes!” panted Waller, ”And what else would you do with the money?”
”Waal, I don't know about what else,” said the man thoughtfully. ”That there weskit and them boots would about do for the present.”
”That wouldn't cost two pounds,” cried Waller; ”and what would you do with the other?”
”Bury it in an old pot,” said the man, with a grin. ”I know a hole as would take that.”
”Oh, Bunny!” cried the boy pa.s.sionately, ”I thought better of you! I did think you were a man!”