“I'll give you arf a crown if you let me search your 'ouse, Bob,” ses Bill Chambers, looking at 'im very 'ard.
“I couldn't do it at the price, Bill,” ses Bob Pretty, shaking his 'ead. “I'm a pore man, but I'm very partikler who I 'ave come into my 'ouse.”
O' course, everybody left off looking at once when they heard about Bob— not that they believed that he'd be such a fool as to keep the cat in his 'ouse; and that evening, as soon as it was dark, Joe Clark went round to see 'im.
“Don't tell me as that cat's found, Joe,” ses Bob Pretty, as Joe opened the door.
“Not as I've 'eard of,” said Joe, stepping inside. “I wanted to speak to you about it; the sooner it's found the better I shall be pleased.”
“It does you credit, Joe Clark,” ses Bob Pretty.
“It's my belief that it's dead,” ses Joe, looking at 'im very 'ard; “but I want to make sure afore taking over the property.”
Bob Pretty looked at 'im and then he gave a little cough. “Oh, you want it to be found dead,” he ses. “Now, I wonder whether that cat's worth most dead or alive?”
Joe Clark coughed then. “Dead, I should think,” he ses at last. “George Barstow's just 'ad bills printed offering fifteen pounds for it,” ses Bob Pretty.
“I'll give that or more when I come into the property,” ses Joe Clark.