"Yes," replied his master, fixing his little grey eye sternly on him, "the red-herring."
"It's gone, sir!" replied Smallbones, with alarm.
"Gone!--gone where?"
"If you please, sir, I didn't a-think that you would have touched it after the dog had had it in his nasty mouth; and so, sir--if you please, sir--"
"And so what?" said Vanslyperken, compressing his thin lips.
"I ate it myself--if you please--O dear--O dear!"
"You did, did you--you gluttonous scarecrow--you did, did you? Are you aware that you have committed a theft--and are you aware of the punishment attending it?"
"O sir--it was a mistake--dear sir," cried Smallbones, whimpering.
"In the first place, I will cut you to ribbons with the cat."
"Mercy, sir--O sir!" cried the lad, the tears streaming from his eyes.