"Yes, sir; the master said I might crawl after you to have a look. Oh dear, dear! burnt to ashes! Why didn't they build the place of stone instead of wood?"
"I don't know, Mike. I was too little to have any voice in the matter."
"Yes, sir, you was, and precious little too; but oh dear, oh dear! I'm a ruined man. Think it would be safe to go to the tool shed and get a shovel? I see it ain't burnt."
"No; we must not risk being seen. But what do you want to do?"
"Try and find something among the ashes where my pantry was, sir."
"No, you must not go now. What is it you want to search for?"
"Honour bright, sir? You won't go along with Mr. Phra and dig for it yourself?"
"Dig for it! Is it likely? What is it?"
"That little old Chinee teapot o' mine as stood on the shelf."
"What, that old bit of rubbish, Mike! Why, both the spout and handle were knocked off."