“It’s larceny,” said Constable Cole.
“You’re wrong there,” said the sergeant. “It’s misappropriation of public funds under trust, besides the charge that might be brought by the subscribers of obtaining money under false pretences.”
“You’ll never get him,” said Jimmy.
“It isn’t him I’m thinking of,” said the sergeant, “but his wife that’s left with a long family dependent on her and not knowing where to look for the bit to put into their mouths.”
“It’s a pity of the creature,” said Constable Cole. “It’s badly she’ll be able to do without him.”
“If so be,” said Jimmy, “that Patsy’s gone the way you say, he’ll have left a trifle behind him for the widow, be the same more or less. He always had a good heart, and it wouldn’t be like a thing he’d do to leave his children to starve.”
“Devil the penny she owned up to anyway,” said the sergeant.
“Then he’ll send it,” said Jimmy; “he’ll send it from America.”
“He might,” said the sergeant.