“’Ear, ’ear!” murmured Horace, shamelessly.
“If you’ve got anything to say to me,” warned Mr. Clark, “I advise you not to say it! Get! See? Get!”
Mr. Poskett, noting the terrible earnestness of Mr. Clark’s visage, glanced wildly about him, and discovered how remote the slipway was from civilization. Yielding suddenly to panic, he turned and trotted away, followed by the heartless laughter of Mr. Dobb and certain blood-curdling threats from Mr. Clark.
“That’s settled ’im!” stated Mr. Dobb. “’E ain’t the sort to trouble you again.”
“And a good job too!” declared Mr. Clark. “It’s the first really comfortable minute I’ve spent since first I took ’is little job on.”
“Never mind, Sam, it served its purpose,” said Mr. Dobb. “Soon as ever ’e spoke to me about ’is niece, and as soon as ever I knew that Lupcott was in it, I began to look round for a chance. And when I learned Lupcott’s ferryman was leaving ’im, I saw the chance sticking out as plain as plain. Luckily I was friendly with all parties. It was me what put Lupcott up to the plan of giving you the ferry to look after to keep you from interfering; it was me what suggested you to Poskett for the job of watching ’is niece; and it was me, Sam, what advised Lupcott not to let you know ’ow things really stood, in case you might want to be too ’elpful. And I know what you are when you tries to be clever.”
“Well, I’m sure I’m very much obliged to you,” murmured Mr. Clark.
“Put two and two neatly together, ’ave you, and found out ’oo the answer is?” bantered Mr. Dobb. “Ain’t I a wonder? All that ’ead work done by me, and you only ’ad to stand by and wait—and you didn’t even know you was standing by and waiting. So now, if you likes, you can take me into the ‘Flag and Pennant’ and stand me something to drink success to your new career.”
“Wait a bit,” said Mr. Clark, counting his available wealth. “Get in the boat, and let me take you across the river and back again. The fare’ll be tuppence. And then we can both ’ave a drink!”