Part 71 (1/2)
”Don't you interfere, sir, till you are called upon,” said the officer roughly. ”Now, Mr George Vine, if you please.”
”I will not have it,” cried Uncle Luke; ”it is an outrage.”
”Let him speak, brother,” said George Vine, with calm dignity; ”now sir, go on.”
”I will, sir. It's a painful duty, but it is a duty. Now, sir, I came here with a properly signed warrant for the arrest of Henry Vine, for robbery and attempted murder.”
”Ah!” sighed Vine, with his brow wrinkling.
”The young man would have resigned himself quietly, but you incited him to resist the law and escape.”
”It is quite true. I have sinned, sir,” said Vine, in a low pained voice, ”and I am ready to answer for what I have done.”
”But that is not all,” continued the officer. ”Not content with aiding my prisoner to escape, you attacked me, sir, and twice over you struck me in the execution of my duty.”
”Is this true, George?” cried Uncle Luke, excitedly.
”Yes,” said his brother, calmly bending to this new storm; ”yes, it is quite true.”
”Well, sir, what have you to say?”
”Nothing.”
”You know, I suppose, that it is the duty of every citizen to help the officers of the law?”
”Yes.”
”And yet you not only fought against me; but struck me heavily. I have the marks.”
”Yes; I own to it all.”
”And you know that it is a very serious offence?”
”Yes,” said the wretched man; and he sank into the nearest chair, looking straight before him into vacancy.
”Well, sir,” said the officer sharply, ”I'm glad you know the consequences.” Then turning sharply on Uncle Luke, who stood biting his lips in an excited manner, ”Perhaps you'll come into the next room with me, sir. I should like a few words with you.”
Uncle Luke scowled at him, as he led the way into the drawing-room, and shut the door angrily.
”Now, sir,” he began fiercely, ”let me--”
”Hold hard, old gentleman!” said the officer; ”don't be so excitable. I want a few words, and then, for goodness' sake, give me a gla.s.s of wine and a biscuit. I've touched nothing since I came here last night.”
”Ah!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Uncle Luke, furiously; but the man went on.
”Of course it's a serious thing striking an officer; let alone the pain, there's the degradation, for people know of it. I'm sore at losing my prisoner, and if he had not held me I should have had the young fellow safe, and that horrible accident wouldn't have happened.”
”And now what are you going to do?” snarled Uncle Luke, ”drag him off to gaol?”