The eyebrows remained cocked; Chirk patted his pocket suggestively.
“No, no!” John said, laughing. “Just try if you can discover what brought him to Kellands, and whether Ned Brean was concerned in it!” He saw a quizzical look in Chirk’s face, and added: “Don’t gammon me you can’t do it! If there’s havey-cavey business afoot, you can get wind of it more easily than another!”
At that moment, the door opened, and Ben slid somewhat warily into the kitchen. Aware of having incurred his friend’s displeasure, he did not venture to address him; but Chirk said encouragingly: “Come here, Benny!” and stretched out a hand.
Much relieved, he bounded across the room. “It’s all right and tight, ain’t it?” he asked anxiously. “And I give Mollie——”
“Never you mind about Mollie! You tell me this, son! Where’s your dad loped off to?”
“I dunno. She knows me, Mollie does! She——”
“Don’t you tell me no lies!” said Chirk sternly. “Your dad never loped off without telling you when he’d be back!”
“Well, he did!” said Ben, wriggling to shake off the grip on his shoulder. “’Leastways, he said he’d be back in an hour, but he never said no more. It don’t matter, Mr. Chirk! I got Jack instead, and we has a bang-up dinner every day, and he’s learnt me to play cards. I like him better than me dad, much! He’s a swell cove!”
“There’s a young varmint for you!” said Chirk, with some severity. “Now, you stand still, Benny, else you don’t give Mollie another carrot as long as you live! Did you ever know your dad go off like this before?”
Ben shook his head vigorously, and once more proffered the suggestion that his dad had been pressed.