“In the first place, how did you come to have anything to do with me?”
Welsh, whose sharp wits instantly divined the weak point in the attack, cut in quickly, “Don’t tell him if he doesn’t know already!”
But Twiddel’s relapse to virtue was complete. “I was asked to take charge of you while——” He hesitated.
“While I was unwell,” smiled Mr Bunker. “Yes?”
“I was to travel with you.”
“Ah!”
“But I—I didn’t like the idea, you see; and so—in fact—Welsh suggested that I should take him instead.”
“While you locked me up in Clankwood?”
“Yes.”
“Ha, ha, ha!” laughed Mr Bunker, “I must say it was a devilish humorous idea.”