"Thank 'ee kindly, sir, but don't 'ee go against the law. The law be a terrible creature."
In the afternoon Eves returned with his purchases.
"There you are, old man," he cried, "acid, stoppers, and tubing. You've got the balloons?"
"No. I say, Tom, this experiment's off for the time; things here are in a deuce of a mess."
He gave an outline of the domestic troubles.
"Whew!" Eves whistled. "So that's old Noakes's game. That throws a flood of light on the old villain's doings. But we'll dish him yet. The first thing is to get this fellow Smail out of the place. That will make the old woman feel a little easier."
"I don't see how we can do that. Trenchard signed the deed or whatever it's called, and you may be sure that Noakes kept on the right side of the law."
"Well, let's go and see."
They opened the door of the farmer's little room, and beheld Smail lying on his back on the sofa placidly smoking a very rank tobacco. On a chair was a basket of provisions and several bottles of beer.
"I say, my man," said Eves, "your boots are rather dirty, you know."