"The law never hints," interrupted Mr. Gammon, impressively, with a bland smile.
"Well then, how did you come, sir, to know that there ever was such a person as Mr. Gabriel Titmouse, my father? And what can come from him, seeing he was only a bit of a shoemaker—unless he's heir to something?"
"Ah, yes—exactly; those are very interesting questions, Mr. Titmouse—very!"——
"Yes, sir; and them and many more I was going to ask long ago, but I saw you were"——
"Sir, I perceive that we have positively been absent from your place of business nearly an hour—your employers will be getting rather impatient."
"Meaning no offence, sir—bother their impatience! I'm impatient, I assure you, to know what all this means. Come, sir, 'pon my life I've told you everything! It isn't quite fair!"
"Why, certainly, you see, Mr. Titmouse," said Gammon, with an agreeable smile—(it was that smile of his which had been the making of Mr. Gammon)—"it is only candid in me to acknowledge that your curiosity is perfectly reasonable, and your frankness very obliging; and I see no difficulty in admitting at once, that I have had a—motive"——
"Yes, sir—and all that—I know, sir,"—hastily interrupted Titmouse, but without irritating or disturbing the placid speaker.
"And that we waited with some anxiety for the result of our advertisement."
"Ah, you can't escape from that, you know, sir!" interposed Titmouse, with a confident air.