“You’ve brought back a dog with you, I perceive,” said the vicar.
“H’m, yes. I’ve brought two. Fond of dogs, vicar?”
“Very. Are you going to offer me one of yours?”
“I don’t think so. They’re not exactly the sort Mrs. B. would fancy poking about her pretty garden. They’ve got queer ways have my dogs.”
“You’ve had them some time?”
“Ten hours. But they were being prepared for me beforehand. In fact, they have been some time in training.”
“Sporting dogs, eh?”
“Yes, and trained for a particular sort of game.”
Ned Mitchell was rubbing his chin slowly and listening to the harsh duet with much satisfaction. There was a quiet significance in his words and manner which kept alive the curiosity of the vicar.
“I should like to see these dogs, Mr. Mitchell,” said he.