| 732 | 733 | 734 | 735 | 736 |
| 1 | 236 | 472 | 708 | 944 |
|
his difficulties, charmed to be out of the entangled skein, was afraid,
when he saw the muster of officers, that they were going to apprehend
Ursus in his house. Two arrests, one after the other, made in his
house--first that of Gwynplaine, then that of Ursus--might be injurious
to the inn. Customers dislike police raids.
Here then was a time for a respectful appeal, suppliant and generous.
Master Nicless turned toward the justice of the quorum a smiling face,
in which confidence was tempered by respect.
"
Your honour, I venture to observe to your honour that these honourable
gentlemen, the police officers, might be dispensed with, now that the
wolf is about to be carried away from England, and that this man, Ursus,
makes no resistance; and since your honour's orders are being punctually
carried out, your honour will consider that the respectable business of
the police, so necessary to the good of the kingdom, does great harm to
an establishment, and that my house is innocent. The merry-andrews of
the Green Box having been swept away, as her Majesty says, there is no
longer any criminal here, as I do not suppose that the blind girl and
the two women are criminals; therefore, I implore your honour to deign
to shorten your august visit, and to dismiss these worthy gentlemen who
have just entered, because there is nothing for them to do in my house;
and, if your honour will permit me to prove the justice of my speech
under the form of a humble question, I will prove the inutility of these
revered gentlemen's presence by asking your honour, if the man, Ursus,
obeys orders and departs, who there can be to arrest here?"
734
Page
Quick Jump
|