Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/259

 Mr. Aaron Weech was pushing his last shutter into its place when "Clean the knives," said Dicky Perrott in perfunctory repetition of the old formula.

Mr. Weech seemed taken aback. "Wot, that?" he asked, doubtfully, pointing at the door-mat. Then, after a sharp look about the almost deserted street, he ran to Jago Row corner, twenty yards away, and looked down there. Nobody was hiding, and he came back. He led the way into the shop, and closed the door. Then, looking keenly in Dicky's face, he suddenly asked: "'Oo toldjer to bring that 'ere?"

"Told me?" Dicky answered, sullenly. "Nobody told me. Don'cher want it?"

"'Ow much did 'e tell ye t' ask for it?"

"Tell me? 'Oo?"

"You know. 'Ow much didjer say 'e said?"

"Dicky was mystified. "Dunno wotcher mean," he replied.