“Now,” said the husband, closing the door, “what do you mean, my good fellow?”
“Sir, what I wish to ask you is—if you can tell me what has become of—of the young Beau—, that is, of your sister’s sons. I understand there were two—and I am told that—that they are both dead. Is it so?”
“What is that to you, friend?”
“An please you, sir, it is a great deal to them!”
“Yes—ha! ha! it is a great deal to everybody whether they are alive or dead!” Mr. Morton, since he had been mayor, now and then had his joke. “But really—”
“Roger!” said Mrs. Morton, under her breath—“Roger!”
“Yes, my dear.”
“Come this way—I want to speak to you about this bill.” The husband approached, and bent over his wife. “Who’s this man?”
“I don’t know.”
“Depend on it, he has some claim to make—some bills or something. Don’t commit yourself—the boys are dead for what we know!”