“What’s all this fuss about?” demanded the foreman.
“He’s got it,” screamed the boy porter. “Sunset’s got it hid under his jacket.”
“Got what hid?” asked the foreman. “Let’s ’ave the facts first of all.”
“I can easily explain,” gasped the new man. “I only wanted to see if— Make him leave go. He’s—he’s throttling me.”
“He’s a-trying to,” admitted the boy porter.
“Let him loose,” ordered the foreman. “Men, stand around him so as he can’t make his escape. What’s that bulging under your arm, matey?”
The new man gave an awkward laugh, as he withdrew the labelled parcel.
“I can explain it all to you,” he said, addressing the foreman and trying to rebutton his torn collar, “if you will favour me with two minutes alone outside.”
“Don’t you do it,” advised the others. “See him ’anged first.”
“Whatsoever you ’ave to say,” declared the foreman steadily, “you’d better say it here and now.”