"Brady, I want to speak to you; I want to explain, you know, about Toppin."
"Oh, I saw you push!" remarked Jack bluntly.
"I'm not going to deny it, but do you know that he begged me to? You came in too late to hear that."
"If I hand you a pistol and ask you to shoot me, will you do it?"
"Don't be a fool, Brady. There was no danger. I shouldn't have let him drown."
"He precious nearly did."
"That was the March Hare's fault. I shouldn't have let him sink again."
"Then you think you were right to push him in, Armitage? I don't. Shall we ask Anderson's opinion?"
"No, Jack, I beg and implore you to keep it dark. Of course I should never do it again. But Simmons and Bacon have sworn not to bring me into the affair. Toppin knows it was his own fault, and is a bit ashamed of it. There's only the March Hare besides yourself. I thought perhaps you might persuade him—"
A shadow darkened the open entrance. There was a stamping on the door-mat, and then Mr. Anderson appeared on the stairs. Jack advanced to meet him.