"It's mad ye are at me, Oi suppose?"
"See here, Patrick Cronin, if you have anything to tell me, speak out. My time is too valuable to waste just now. If you intend to ask for a situation with the firm you had better save your breath. One experience with you is enough."
Instead of becoming angry at this plain talk, Patrick set to chuckling with good humor.
"Oi don't blame yer for being down on me," he said, with what seemed very like a wink. "Oi should not have let that spalpane tempt me wid th' drink. Oi have it in for him, and by th' same token that's why Oi'm now talking to yer."
"Do you know where Willis Round is?" quickly asked Nattie.
"Maybe Oi do, and maybe Oi don't. It's for you to say, sir."
"For me to say? What have I to do with it?"
"Would yer like to capture him?" asked Patrick, cunningly.
Nattie thought a moment before replying. Would it really be worth the candle to bring the ex-bookkeeper to justice? The chase might entail a journey and some expense. But then would it not be advisable for the sake of future peace to have Round behind prison bars?