“Dal me—” began the old man, but he stopped short.
“Just as I telled thee,” said Brough, eagerly.
“Dal thee! don’t set thee clapper going at me,” roared the old man. “I know it, don’t I?”
“Yes,” said the vicar, smiling, as he took and patted Jessie’s hand; “John Maine was there, and a braver ally I never had.”
“What?” roared the farmer.
“After watching my house, and setting young Podmore to watch it,” said the vicar, “he came and warned me about his suspicions, and—”
“Dal me!” cried old Bultitude, “you kep’ him there all night, parson, to help you?”
“I did,” said the vicar.
“And took the rascals?”
“Yes, with John Maine’s help.”