"Are you aware that you have committed a crime?" said he, more pointedly than he had before spoken.
"I don't think I have committed any crime, or even any wrong. If you think so, Mr. Tom Thornton, you are welcome to your opinion."
"I do think so," he answered, beginning to be a little excited. "Do you know that I can arrest you, and send you to prison?"
"I do know it; and I respectfully ask, Why don't you do it?"
"Why don't I do it?" repeated he, apparently amazed at my impudence, and disappointed because an arrest and a prison appeared to have no terrors to me.
"Yes, why don't you do it?"
"I'll tell you why I don't do it. Because your uncle is weak, and don't wish to injure you. That's the reason."
"That isn't the reason. I want to tell you, Mr. Tom Thornton, that nothing would suit me better than to have you arrest me, and send me to prison."
This answer vexed him so much that he jumped up, and walked off.