Mrs. Roberts: ‘Edward. Didn’t I say Edward, all the time?’
Bemis: ‘I thought you meant me. I didn’t think of pursuing them; but you may be very sure that if there had been a policeman within call—of course there wasn’t one within cannon-shot—I should have handed the scoundrels over without the slightest remorse.’
Roberts: ‘Oh!’ He sinks into a chair with a slight groan.
Willis: ‘What is it?’
Roberts: ‘’Sh! Don’t say anything. But—stay here. I want to speak with you, Willis.’
Bemis, with mounting wrath: ‘I should not have hesitated an instant to give the rascal in charge, no matter who was dependent upon him—no matter if he were my dearest friend, my own brother.’
Roberts, under his breath: ‘Gracious powers!’
Bemis: ‘And while I am very sorry to disagree with Mr. Roberts, I can’t help feeling that he made a great mistake in allowing the ruffians to escape.’
Mrs. Crashaw, with severity: ‘I think you are quite right, Mr. Bemis.’
Bemis: ‘Probably it was the same gang attacked us both. After escaping from Mr. Roberts they fell upon me.’