"By the way, what's this I happened to hear about brother Henry being dead? I didn't know he was dead till he wasn't."
"You didn't?"
"I mean I heard the news of his death and the contradiction about the same time. Why did you keep it from me?"
"Oh, I knew there wasn't any truth in the report, and there wasn't anything to be gained by telling you."
"Anything to be gained. Do you only tell a man a thing when there is something to be gained by it?"
The Judge looked at the clock and then at his watch. "He ought to be here pretty soon. I want everybody to keep away from me. I want to see him first alone—in here."
"But what's all this mystery about? I'll be hanged if you haven't put my light under a bushel."
"No, William, it is my light that has been under a bushel."
"Everything may be all right, John, but I don't understand it. There was something I wanted to say. Yes. In case I forget it, tell him the date was a mistake."
"You won't forget it, William. You never forget a mistaken date."