“Ah! I never winks without there's a notion or two in my head. A sensible horse don't throw his ears forward, unless there's something in the wind he thinks may be worth looking at. I can't make out which way we've been jockied in this form. Where lies the fault, sir?—that's what I want to know. Who put the dog in the box? I wish any one would answer that simple question.”
“So do I, Dick, with all my heart.”
“Well, then, it's clear there's a screw loose somewhere. I'll lay my leg it don't lie with little Patty.—Then where can it?”
“Ay, that's the point, Dick.”
“Why, then, if I'm any judge, this little porter isn't twopence halfpenny better than he should be. He was a long while going for the trunk, you'll recollect: and when I told him that it was directed to Godfrey Fairfax, Esquire, 'Ay, ay!' says he, taking the words out of my mouth, 'Godfrey Fairfax, Esquire, of Demerary.' It did'nt strike me, then; but it seems rather oddish to me, now; and, in my mind, all the roguery was done 'twixt here and the wagon-office: I'll bet a guinea it was.”
“Egad, Dick! you're generally right; and there seems some probability. But how shall we act?”
“Why, sir, I recommend that we should make him drunk, and pump him.”
“But, suppose his head should prove too hard for ours, Dick.”
“Never fear that, sir; I'll ring the changes, so that he shall do double duty.”
“You forget, Dick, that all this time he may be making his escape. Run down stairs and look after him.”