"
Lushy Dick, stung to recklessness by a succession of such remarks,
broke out in vehement self-justification.
"_Would_ yer like to know, y' old ----! Then yer shall, ---- soon!
I'm ---- if I don't tell jist the ---- truth, an' take the ----
consequences. It was Slimy as give it me, an' if yer want to know
where Slimy got it, yer 'll 'ave to ---- well find out, 'cos I don't
know myself."
"And how came Slimy to give you half a sovereign?" Mr. Woodstock at
once interposed, speaking with authority.
"Is that you, Mr. Woodstock?" exclaimed the boy, turning round
suddenly at the sound of the voice. "Now, look 'ere, I'm a-goin' to
make a ---- clean breast of it. This 'ere ---- bloke's been a
ringin' the changes on me; I'll show him up, an' ---- well chance
it. Slimy give me a quid afore he took his ---- hook."
The lad had clearly been drinking, but had not yet reached the
incoherent stage. He spoke in great excitement, repeating constantly
his determination to be revenged upon the tobacconist at all costs.
It was with difficulty that Mr. Woodstock kept him to the point.
"Why Slimy give it me? Well, I'll jist tell yer, Mr. Woodstock. It
was to do a job for him, which I never done it after all.
Pages:
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459