As he spoke, Mr. Chilter placed his hand in my lord’s, and for the second time in his life, felt the pressure of those firm, kindly fingers.
*****
“Why, your honour! Ye’ve lost your emerald!”
“No, Jim. I gave it away.”
“Ye—ye gave it away, sir?”
“M’m. To the small spider.”
“B-but———”
“And he called me fat, too.”
“Called ye fat, sir?” asked the man, bewildered.
“Yes. Very fat. By the way, let me tell you that I bought Jenny at Fittering to-day from the naughty ruffian who waylaid Mr. Bumble Bee.” He proceeded to give Jim a sketch of what had transpired below. When he had finished the man shook his head severely.
“I doubt ye’ll never learn wisdom, sir,” he scolded.
“I? What have I done?”
“What did ye want to tell it all to the spider man for, sir? ’Twas most incautious of ye. Like as not, he’ll split to the fat gentleman, and we’ll have the whole town at our heels.”
“Which just shows all you know of the small spider,” replied his master calmly. “Hand me the powder.”
