Uncle Josiah was silent for some moments.
“No! Not now!”
Lindon’s heart leapt at that word “no!” But it sank again at the “not now.”
“But the case is awkward, sir,” said the constable. “After what this man has said we shall be obliged to take some notice of the matter.”
“’Bliged to? Course you will. Here, bring ’im along. Come on, mate. I can tell you stories all night now about my bygones. Keep up yer sperrits, and I daresay the magistrits ’ll let you off pretty easy.”
“If there is any charge made against my young clerk,”—Don winced, for his uncle did not say, “against my nephew,”—“I will be answerable for his appearance before the magistrates. That will be sufficient, I presume.”
“Yes, sir, I suppose that will do,” said the constable.
“But I s’pose it won’t,” said Mike. “He’s the monkey and I’m only the cat. You’ve got to take him if you does your dooty, and master ’ll be answerable for me.”
“Exactly,” said the constable; “come along.”
“Nay, but this arn’t fair, master. Take one, take all. You bring us both.”