“Brazil nuts?” exclaimed the magistrate in astonishment. “I do not understand you.”
“Well, your worship, they’re terrible hard, and have got three corners. Noah! hand over some of them nuts to his honour. Just you try your teeth on ’em, Mr. Caunter. You can’t do it. It was the Brazil nuts as cut my head. Not that it matters much. My head be nicely sewed up again, and right as ever it was.”
“Explain the circumstances to the Bench, and no meandering, if you please.”
“Well, that’s easy done, your worship. Noah, he’d bought thickey nuts at a stall. What did you give for ’em, Noah?”
“Tu’pence,” said Flood solemnly.
“Hish! hish!” from the nearest constable.
“Twopence he paid, your worship, and then he wanted to crack ’em and couldn’t do it. He couldn’t wi’ his teeth, nor in his fist. If your worship will be pleased to try on the desk, you’ll find how hard the nuts be.”
“Go on, and to the point.”
“You see, Rose, she’s got a wonderful fancy for nuts”--
“Who may Rose be?”