a-talking aloud to 'isself many a time. 'E was a-weary of life 'e was. So
'tis plain 'e just thought 'e'd put an end to it, like many a better man
afore 'im."

And then the youth said something that rather surprised himself, but his
mind had been working while the other had been talking.

"Did anyone say different?" was his question and the other answered in
a curious tone: "Now you're askin'! Yes, there was some folk as did say
different. They argued that the Colonel never took the pizen knowingly.
'E was very keen over terriers--we bred 'em. The best of 'em, a grand
sire, was the very spit of that little dawg sitting up on that there
bench. Colonel bred 'em for profit, not pleasure. Mrs. Crofton, she
'ated 'em, and she lost no time either in getting rid of 'em after
'e was gone. They got on 'er nerves, same as 'e'd done. She give the
best--prize-winner 'e was--to the Crowner as tried the corpse. 'E'd known
'em both--was a bit sweet on 'er 'isself."

The youth laughed discordantly. "Ho! Ho! She's that sort, is she?"

But the other spoke up at once with a touch of sharpness in his voice.

"She's a good sort to them as be'aves themselves, my lad. She give me a
good present. Got me a good, new soft place, too, that's where I'm going
to-morrer. I'm 'ere to oblige 'er, that's what I am--just to put you,
young man, in the way of things. Look sharp, please 'er, mind your
manners, and you may end better off than you know!"

The lad looked at the speaker with a gleam of rather hungry curiosity in
his lack-lustre eyes.