“Not in the slightest degree.”
He paused. Presently he said:
“My friend, I don’t believe a word of it. Don’t you see, yourself, it’s a tale that won’t wash? Do you believe it?”
“Yes. I know it’s true.”
“Weren’t you surprised?”
“Clear through to the marrow!”
He had been edging me along back to the house. He had a deep design; he sprung it on me now. Said he:
“Stop where you are. I’ll mighty soon find out!”
He walked to the door and up the steps, keeping a furtive eye out toward me and ready to jump for me if I ran. Then he pretended to pull the bell, and instantly faced about to observe the effect on me. But there wasn’t any; I walked toward him instead of running away. That unsettled him. He came down the steps, evidently perplexed, and said:
“Well, I can’t make it out. It may be all right, but it’s too many for me. I don’t like your looks and I won’t have such characters around. Go along, now, and look sharp. If I catch you prowling around here again I’ll run you in.”