to traipse back to Wooler—till I please! I'm not going to suit the convenience of either Charlie Sperrigoe or Jackie Murthwaite—till I please! I reckon I know my own business as well as the next man, and I shall just carry it out—as I please! And if you want me to indulge in modern slang—that's that!"
"And it all means that you know a great deal more than you've let out!" exclaimed Madrasia.
He treated us to another of his sardonic bursts of laughter at that.
"I'm not aware that I've let out anything at all, my dear, so far!" he retorted. "And I've no intention of doing so until———"
"Until you please!" said Madrasia. "Precisely! More mystery! Really, Jimmie, for a respectable elderly gentleman———"
He laughed again, throwing up his head as if he enjoyed being scolded, rose from his chair, and, standing on the hearth with his hands in his pockets, looked from one to the other of us as if he enjoyed seeing us wonder. Suddenly he drew one hand out, full of
