“A small matter of discipline, Sir Geoffrey, which concerns Alfred and myself.”
“But why, man, is it placed upside down?”
“Merely as an object lesson, to test a young man’s powers of observation.”
As he spoke, with a certain quaint deliberation, he glanced affectionately at the fine piece of silver. Then, in a sharper tone, he spoke to Alfred:
“Take it away, my lad, and clean it properly.”
Alfred picked up the tankard, somewhat sullenly. His face brightened as the Squire exclaimed irritably:
“But, damn it, Ben, the tankard is clean. Here—give it me.”
Alfred handed over the tankard, which the Squire examined carefully.
“Nothing wrong that I can see.”
Alfred betrayed a momentary triumph. Fishpingle said quietly: