| 226 | 227 | 228 | 229 | 230 |
| 1 | 85 | 169 | 254 | 338 |
|
narrow hall. The justice proceeded to write in his record book. Hendon,
always alert, thought he would like to know why the officer followed the
woman out; so he slipped softly into the dusky hall and listened. He
heard a conversation to this effect--
"It is a fat pig, and promises good eating; I will buy it of thee; here
is the eightpence."
"
Eightpence, indeed! Thou'lt do no such thing. It cost me three
shillings and eightpence, good honest coin of the last reign, that old
Harry that's just dead ne'er touched or tampered with. A fig for thy
eightpence!"
"Stands the wind in that quarter? Thou wast under oath, and so swore
falsely when thou saidst the value was but eightpence. Come straightway
back with me before his worship, and answer for the crime!--and then the
lad will hang."
"
There, there, dear heart, say no more, I am content. Give me the
eightpence, and hold thy peace about the matter."
The woman went off crying: Hendon slipped back into the court room, and
the constable presently followed, after hiding his prize in some
convenient place. The justice wrote a while longer, then read the King a
228
Page
Quick Jump
|