The Governor sat down in a chair and burst into a roar of laughter.
"You scoundrel!" he chuckled. "You've given us a nice chase. Half the warders are out after you now. What on earth induced you to bolt, and where did you get those clothes?"
He broke down again and shook with suppressed merriment.
Thus adjured, Mr. Bascombe unfolded his story. He told it quite simply, making no attempt to apologize for his escape, or to seek avoidance in any way of the punishment that awaited him. The Governor listened with vast interest and amusement, his sense of humour temporarily overcoming the amazing irregularity of the whole proceedings. When Mr. Bascombe described his lunch, and the production of the '58 port, he lay back in his chair and laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks.
Finally, when the narrative was finished, he got up.
"Well, Bascombe," he said, with a smile, "you've had your fun, and now you've got to pay for it."
The convict, who was beginning to feel better, rose instantly to his feet and saluted.
The Governor not unkindly laid his hand upon the old sinner's shoulder.
"You're a disgrace to the prison, Bascombe," he said, "but I'll do my best for you."
And Colonel Marshall kept his word.