"I--I just looked in to see whether you was in, Bob," ses Henery.

"That's why you was found under my bed, I s'pose?" ses Bob Pretty.
"I want a straight answer, Henery Walker, and I mean to 'ave it, else I'm
going off to Cudford for Policeman White."

"I went there to get that hamper," ses Henery Walker, plucking up spirit.
"You won it unfair last night, and we determined for to get it back. So
now you know."

"I call on all of you to witness that," ses Bob, looking round. "Henery
Walker went into my 'ouse to steal my hamper. He ses so, and it wasn't
'is fault he couldn't find it. I'm a pore man and I can't afford such
things; I sold it this morning, a bargain, for thirty bob."

"Well, then there's no call to make a fuss over it, Bob," ses Bill
Chambers.

"I sold it for thirty bob," ses Bob Pretty, "and when I went out this
evening I left the money on my bedroom mantelpiece--one pound, two
arf-crowns, two two-shilling pieces, and two sixpences. My wife and
her sister both saw it there. That they'll swear to."

"Well, wot about it?" ses Sam Jones, staring at 'im.

"Arter my pore wife 'ad begged and prayed Henery Walker on 'er bended
knees to spare 'er life and go," ses Bob Pretty, "she looked at the
mantel-piece and found the money 'ad disappeared."