“I think I know where he is; he is not far off. I will go and find him if you will excuse me.”
“No! we won't trouble you. Here, Hodges, come here. Have you seen the new chaplain—where is he?”
“Well, sir, Evans tells me he is—” click!
“Confound you, don't stand grinning. Where is he?”
“In the black hole, sir!”
“What d'ye mean by the black hole? The dust hole?”
“No, sir, I mean the dark cells.”
“Then why don't you say the dark cells? Has he been there long?”
Mr. Lepel answered the question. “Ever since three o'clock, and it is nearly nine; and we are both of us to drink tea with Mr. Jones.”
Mr. Hawes showed no hurry. “What did he want to go in them for?”