No, I never ask Noah nothing about Queen’s business. He don’t want two women over him!

Blore.

Then you ’aven’t seen the miserable culprit?

Hannah.

Lor’ no. I was in bed hours when Noah brought ’im ’ome. I take no interest in it all. They tell us it’s only a wretched poacher or a petty larcery we’ll get in St. Marvells. My poor Noah ain’t never likely to have the chance of a horrid murder in a place what returns a Conservative. My joint’s burning.

[Kneeling to look into the oven.

Blore.

But, ’Annah, suppose this case you’ve got ’old of now is a case what’ll shake old England to its basis! Suppose it means columns in the paper with Topping’s name a-figurin’! Suppose as family readin’, it ’old its own with divorce cases!

Hannah.

Hullo! You know something about this arrest, you do!