Henery Walker got up all white and shaking and flung 'is arms about,
trying to get 'is breath.

"Do you mean to say I stole it?" he ses, at last.

"O' course I do," ses Bob Pretty. "Why, you said yourself afore these
witnesses and Mr. Smith that you came to steal the hamper. Wot's the
difference between stealing the hamper and the money I sold it for?"

Henery Walker tried for to answer 'im, but he couldn't speak a word.

"I left my pore wife with 'er apron over her 'ead sobbing as if her 'art
would break," ses Bob Pretty; "not because o' the loss of the money so
much, but to think of Henery Walker doing such a thing--and 'aving to go
to jail for it."

"I never touched your money, and you know it," ses Henery Walker, finding
his breath at last. I don't believe it was there. You and your wife 'ud
swear anything."

"As you please, Henery," ses Bob Pretty. "Only I'm going straight off to
Cudford to see Policeman White; he'll be glad of a job, I know. There's
three of us to swear to it, and you was found under my bed."

"Let bygones be bygones, Bob," ses Bill Chambers, trying to smile at 'im.

"No, mate," ses Bob Pretty. "I'm going to 'ave my rights, but I don't
want to be 'ard on a man I've known all my life; and if, afore I go to my
bed to-night, the thirty shillings is brought to me, I won't say as I
won't look over it."