"You're a very wicked woman," he said to Mrs. Gammer. "And—and——"
He broke off, entirely nonplussed by the situation in which he found himself. Mrs. Gammer continued to wash up the spoons and forks with utter indifference to his consternation.
"The cock's eat up, and there's an end of it," she said. "You'd best go and tell the magistrates all about it."
Sheepish and disconcerted, the policeman slunk home. The next morning the chief asked him if he had served the order on Mrs. Gammer.
"I—served it," said he, scratching his head.
"And did you get the bird given up?" demanded his superior officer.
"No, I can't say as I did," replied the policeman.
"Was it still on the top of the tester-bed?" pursued his awkward questioner.
"No. It was not on the tester-bed," replied the policeman.
"Then where was it?" insisted the chief.