“When the cat’s away, the mice can play, you know.”
“This mouse does not care about playing,” said Gilbert, smiling.
“Gilbert is a model boy,” said Simon Moore, with a sneer.
“I never set up for one,” said John, in a tone of congratulation.
“I should say not,” sneered the book-keeper, who could not abstain from criticising even his cousin, in whose favor he was intriguing to oust Gilbert from his position. “However, I’ll say this for you, that you are not a hypocrite.”
“And I never want to be,” said John, virtuously.
Of course Gilbert understood that here was another hit at him; but he was discreet enough to understand that it would do him no good to notice it.
Presently John turned to go.
“Is there anything I can do for you, cousin Simon?” he asked.
“Not to-day,” answered the book-keeper, significantly. “You can look round again in a day or two.”