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The poor constable, taken by surprise, was speechless, at first, then
found his tongue and fell to blustering and threatening; but Hendon was
tranquil, and waited with patience till his breath was spent; then said--
"I have a liking to thee, friend, and would not willingly see thee come
to harm. Observe, I heard it all--every word. I will prove it to thee."
Then he repeated the conversation which the officer and the woman had had
together in the hall, word for word, and ended with--
"There--have I set it forth correctly? Should not I be able to set it
forth correctly before the judge, if occasion required?"
The man was dumb with fear and distress, for a moment; then he rallied,
and said with forced lightness--
"'Tis making a mighty matter, indeed, out of a jest; I but plagued the
woman for mine amusement."
"
Kept you the woman's pig for amusement?"
The man answered sharply--
"
Nought else, good sir--I tell thee 'twas but a jest."
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