“Truth enough,” said Cæsar.
“And he was sewing a suit for the big man in the kitchen when the bad work was going doing upstairs.”
“You don't say!”
“'You've robbed me!' says the Ballawhaine.”
“Dear heart alive!” cried Grannie. “To his own son, was it?”
“'You've cheated me!' says he, 'you deceaved me, you've embezzled my money and broke my heart!' says he. 'I've spent a fortune on you, and what have you brought me back?' says he. 'This,' says he, 'and this—and this—barefaced forgeries, all of them!' says he.”
“The Lord help us!” muttered Cæsar.
“'They're calling me a miser, aren't they?' says he. 'I grind my people to the dust, do I? What for, then? Whom for? I've been a good father to you, anyway, and a fool, too, if nobody knows it!' says he.”
“Nobody! Did he say nobody, Mr. Jelly?” said Cæsar, screwing up his mouth.
“'If you'd had my father to deal with,' says he, 'he'd have turned you out long ago for a liar and a thief.' 'My God, father,' says Ross, struck silly for the minute. 'A thief, d'ye hear me?' says the Ballawhaine; 'a thief that's taken every penny I have in the world, and left me a ruined man.'”