“Mr. Wilson,” exclaimed Penrose, “will you stand by and allow such an outrage to be enacted under your own roof?”
“I think you had better go with your cousin,” said the landlord soothingly. “As you are crazy, it will be better for you.”
“But I am not crazy.”
“Undoubtedly the man is crazy,” broke in Mr. Snowdon. “I have had an interview with him in which he claimed to be a former pupil of mine, and told an absurd story of my being ridden on a rail.”
“I see you are a sensible man,” said James Roque. “I might have known as much from your intelligent appearance.”
“Moreover he has aided and abetted a pupil of mine to escape from my rightful authority.”
“The case seems to be pretty clear,” said Roque, with a malicious smile. “Cousin Penrose, you may as well resign yourself to circumstances. You must go back with us. I trust you will not compel us to use force. Come, gentlemen, whatever is to be done must be done quickly.”
“Stop a minute, gentlemen!” said the landlord. “You promised to pay my bill.”
“I will do it as soon as my cousin is secured. You don’t want me to leave him here to burn down the house about your ears?”
“No, no!” said the landlord hastily.