“O no,” he exclaimed, with yet a scared and distrustful look; “in coorse you knew it couldn’t consarn me anyhow, ’cause I an’t done nothing wrong, I know; but it sartinly looked werry peticlar funny, didn’t it now, sir?” wiping his forehead; “but when a gent gives his word, I believe him, sir.”
“Well, but about my dog; you’ve never seen him?”
“Never set these blessed eyes on him yet, sir.”
“Come, come, my man,” I said, good-naturedly, “I have acted honourably by you, and do you so with me. I pledge my word that no harm shall come to you through me. Now tell me—you have seen Tickler!” I added, so suddenly that I took him off his guard.
“Well, sir, you speak so werry ansome—I have seen the dog, and I an’t no manner of doubt it’s your’n.”
“His collar on.”
“Oh, he han’t got any collar on now—least wise, when I picked him up.”
“Why, I thought you told me your friend picked him up?”
“Did I indeed? Well pra’ps he did—but there an’t no collar.”
“Well, as to the Reward—you saw the advertisement offered only a sovereign?”