Fuller was too disgusted with the man’s behavior to say a word, but busied himself in feeding Jotty cautiously with biscuits soaked in whisky. The boy soon began to pick up, and eagerly demanded more food, which Alan refused to give him lest he should suffer from overeating, after being so long without nourishment. Besides he thought that the whisky might make him drunk, which was not to be thought of, since the boy had to give his evidence and tell his secret, whatever that might be. So while Sorley wept and maundered on about himself in an agony of self-pity, Alan lifted Jotty and placed him in a deep armchair. By this time the color had returned to the lad’s face, and he was much stronger for the moment, at all events, so Fuller thought that it would be just as well to question him.
“Why did you warn Mr. Sorley after betraying him to me?” he asked.
“‘Wanted quids,” admitted Jotty frankly, and with a malevolent glance at Sorley; “‘knew he’d pay t’ git awaiy fro’ th’ coppers. ‘Said es he would, an’ tole me, es his cash was in his bloomin’ cellars. I was fool enuff t’ g’ daown, I was, an’ he shoved me int’ one of ’em an’ keeps me wiffout grub till I fair screeched wiff ’unger. But I’ll ’ave th’lawr of him, I will,” said Jotty vindictively and very humanly.
“Why didn’t you escape?”
“‘Couldn’t, nohow. Thet cove lock’d th’ beastly door, he did.”
“Couldn’t you cry out?”
“I cried and hollered till I was fair sick, but it warn’t no’ good, nohow, es I soon sawr, mister. He guv me grub et toimes t’ keep me fro’ becomin’ a deader,” acknowledged the lad grudgingly, “but he ses as he’d not feed me up till I tole. But I didn’t, you bet I didn’t.”
“Tell what?”
“The truth about the murder,” sobbed Sorley; “he knows it, the reptile.”
“I dunno no nuffin;” murmured Jotty sulkily; “give me another bisket, mister, ’cept y’ want t’ play the saime game.”