Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/83

 "Why, what is the matter? What's wrong?" inquired Pokey. But Legge returned no answer.

"If there's anything fructifying in your mind, unpleasant," said Obadiah, "out with it, my boy, like a Briton!"

"Who," demanded Legge, with feigned ferocity, "who broke into the Grange Cottage, last night?"

"I didn't," said Pokey, "so that's enough for me."

"They who did," said Obadiah, "ought to be served, as they used to serve them in Nova Scotia, in the time of Julius Cæsar, and Peter the Great!"

"But was it broken into?" said Click.

"She sent for me, as you have heard, and there were the things! I never in my life witnessed such a scene of confusion. The parson was there, and he told me at once that he should indict me for keeping a disorderly house!"

"The parson! pooh!" exclaimed Obadiah. "Don't they draw nine-and-twenty millions of money, annually, every year, from the vitals of the people? What do they want more? Look at the ecclesiastical swindle exposed by Joey Hume! Could Bobby Peel defend it? Look, again, at Charley Buller's motion, that was backed by Tommy Duncombe! Do you mean to tell me—"

"But," interrupted Click, "was the cottage broken into last night?"

"Why, that's involved in mystery," replied Legge, "no locks appear to have been broken, but, as Mr. Rouse said—"

"Who cares for Teddy Rouse?" cried Obadiah; "Who cares for the cloth to which Teddy Rouse belongs? They are what I call the locusts of liberty!"

"As he said," continued Legge, "the things couldn't have been thus disturbed without hands. And now Pokey will have to prove that he didn't disturb them.".

"I!" exclaimed Pokey. "Why do they pitch upon me?"

"Mrs. Sound saw you near the premises. That's strong circumstantial evidence. You were there twice, which makes the case stronger. The bottom of it is, you're in a mess!"

"But I'll take my oath—"

"That you'll not be suffered to do. Mind you, I don't say that you are the man that broke in, you will recollect that. I shall give no evidence against you; but it strikes me you'd better prepare for your defence."

"I remember," observed Obadiah, "I remember that, during the French Revolution—"

"Blister the French Revolution!" cried Pokey, who began to feel very much alarmed. "What's the French Revolution to this? But are you serious, Mr. Legge? Really, now, are you serious?"

"Serious! It isn't a thing to joke about, I can tell you. You'd better leave the place till the matter blows over."

"I can't leave the place. How can I leave? I've no less than four pair of breeches in hand!"

In an instant Legge, unable to control himself, sent forth a loud