******
Georgie explained as best he could. He explained that he was meant to be King John returning from the Wash and that Dam and Blarst were his two servants. But explanations were unavailing. No explanation could wipe out from the memories of those present that astounding picture of Georgie Murdoch standing in the middle of the lawn caked with black mud from head to foot and saying, “Oh, damn and blast!”
The party broke up after that. No festive atmosphere could have survived that shock. The Outlaws, clean and neat and sphinx-like and silent, accompanied their parents home.
“Well,” said the parents, “I’d never have believed that of Georgie Murdoch!”
“Caked with mud!”
“And such language!”
“It shows that you never can tell.”
A close observer might have gathered that at heart the Outlaws’ parents were almost as jubilant over Georgie’s downfall as were the Outlaws themselves.
The famous cousin, who was by the gate as William took his leave, managed to press a ten-shilling note into William’s hand.
“To be divided amongst your accomplices,” he murmured. “You surpassed my highest expectation. As artist to artist I tend you my congratulations.”