‘Has it taken you half an hour to discover that?’
‘Yes,’ answered Joseph simply. ‘Thinking and digesting are much the same. I ain’t a caterpillar that can eat and digest at once.’
‘I wish I’d had another glass of cider,’ said one of the constables, ‘but these folk seemed in a mighty haste to get rid of us.’
‘There is the “Hare and Hounds” at Goatadon,’ said Joseph.
‘That is a long bit out of the road,’ remonstrated the constable.
‘What is time to us police!’ answered Joseph. ‘It is made to be killed, like a flea.’
‘And hops away as fast,’ said another.
‘Let us get back to Tavistock,’ said a warder.
‘Oh, if you wish it,’ answered Joseph; ‘only it do seem a cruel pity.’