“I dare not,” said the boy, “my mother would beat me.”
“No, she will not,” said the father. “You need not mind. I will see she does not hurt you.”
Our hostess, the boy’s mother, not thinking that her son would tell (as he did) said to him.
“Answer boldly what your father asks you.”
“You will beat me,” he said.
“No, I will not,” she replied.
The father, now that the boy had permission to speak, again asked;
“Well, my son, on your word, did you look at the c——s of all the women who were at the baths?”
“By St. John, yes, father.”
“Were there plenty of them? Speak, and don’t lie.”