“Ah, that’s where it is. That was what cornered me. I thought it best anyhow to take a circumbendebus route, so I had a pretty little drive in the country, all through the buttercups and daisies; but, Lord bless you, Charlie, I didn’t enjoy the bootiful scenery, for I was thinking all the while of the mess you had got into, and thinking at the same time what chance you had of getting out of it. So, you see, it wasn’t at all a pleasant ride I had—far from it. Howsomever, I needn’t ask now how you got on, for you are here, and I’m jolly glad to see you.”
“I had a narrow squeak for it, but I pulled through.”
“I sed as how you would—blessed if I didn’t. You’re a stunner, and I had that confidence in you that I felt sartin sure you wouldn’t let em cop you, but I warnt sure ’bout old Simmonds. How did he behave?”
“Right as the mail. He turned out a trump card.”
“I’m glad to hear it, precious glad.”
“Well, and after you drove in the country? What then?”
“Why, I says, says I, this is a bit of a fix. ’Cause, you see, in a manner of speaking, I didn’t know very well how to get shut of the stuff.”
“Why didn’t you take the whole lot to Isaac?”
“What, at that time, when the detectives were on the scent? No, no, Charles, Bill knew a trick worth two of that body; lord bless you, the chances were that they’d visit the houses of every Jew ‘fence’ in the neighbourhood. Don’t you see that, old man?”
“That is true enough. So you did not venture to try an’ get rid of the things—so much the better. What did you do after all then?”