“As if you didn’t know,” he replied, returning to his doubting vein.
“I’ve heard my papa speak of it,” I said, eager to convince him that I was speaking the truth. “He said the finest of all the fruit in the country went there, and that the flowers in the central—central—”
“Avenue?” suggested the constable.
“Yes, central avenue—were always worth a visit.”
“That’s so. And that’s what your papa said, eh?”
“Yes, sir, I have heard him say so more than once.”
“Then don’t you think, young fellow, as it looks very suspicious for a young gent as talks about his papa to be found sleeping on a doorstep?”
“Yes, sir, I suppose it does,” I said, “but I have no friends now.”
“Well, you’d better come along o’ me, and tell your tale to the inspector. I’m not going to leave you here. He’ll soon get to know the rights of it. You’ve run away, that’s what you’ve done.”
“Yes, sir,” I said; “I did run away, but—”