“And I be Potter the smuggler, sir.”
“And a man, George! And ’tis as such that I shall always know you, so—give me your hand, friend George!”
So, in the gloom, hand met and grasped hand.
“Lord, sir,” quoth Mr. Potter, “I dunno as I bean’t a bit ... glad-loike, you callin’ Potter your friend an’ arl——”
“Why then, George, pray tell me why do you seek Jonas Skag so earnestly?”
“Well, from what I be hearin’ ... an’ likewise addin’ two an’ two, I rackon Jonas knows more’n a bit about that theer false signallin’ ... an’ if so be I find ’e do ... why then, sir—why then——”
“Well?”
“No matter, sir—mum for that. But I rackon ’e wun’t nowise betray no lads to theer deaths never no more!”
“What do you mean, George?”