"He told me further that, thinking the circumstances in which the watch
was offered for sale somewhat suspicious, he had insisted upon the
woman's telling him the whole story of how she came by it, before he
would consent to buy it of her.
"He said that at first--as women of that stamp invariably do--she tried
prevarication, but on being threatened that she should at once be given
into custody if she did not tell the whole truth, she described the way
in which you had run after the carriage, till as she said you were black
in the face, and insisted on giving her all your pocket money, your knife
and your watch. She added that my coachman John--whom I shall instantly
discharge--was witness to the whole transaction. Now, Ernest, be pleased
to tell me whether this appalling story is true or false?"
It never occurred to Ernest to ask his father why he did not hit a man
his own size, or to stop him midway in the story with a remonstrance
against being kicked when he was down. The boy was too much shocked and
shaken to be inventive; he could only drift and stammer out that the tale
was true.
"So I feared," said Theobald, "and now, Ernest, be good enough to ring
the bell.
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