SNOW. The odd thing is, sir, that he persists in sayin' he took the box himself.
BARTHWICK. Took the box himself! [He smiles.] What does he think to gain by that?
SNOW. He says the young gentleman was intoxicated last night
[JACK stops the cracking of a nut, and looks at SNOW.]
[BARTHWICK, losing his smile, has put his wine-glass down;
there is a silence—SNOW, looking from face to face, remarks]
—took him into the house and gave him whisky; and under the influence of an empty stomach the man says he took the box.
MRS. BARTHWICK. The impudent wretch!
BARTHWICK. D' you mean that he—er—intends to put this forward to-morrow?
SNOW. That'll be his line, sir; but whether he's endeavouring to shield his wife, or whether [he looks at JACK] there's something in it, will be for the magistrate to say.
MRS. BARTHWICK. [Haughtily.] Something in what? I don't understand you. As if my son would bring a man like that into the house!