No one will
believe that you did not know the man to be a foreign devil, or that he
could hoodwink two such learned Professors so cleverly as to get their
permit out of them. Obviously he seduced you into selling him your
permit, and--I presume because he wanted a little of our money--he made
you pay him for his kit. I am satisfied that you have not only had
traffic with a foreign devil, but traffic of a singularly atrocious kind,
and this being so, I shall Blue-Pool both of you as soon as I can get you
up to the Pool itself. The sooner we start the better. I shall gag you,
and drive you up in a close carriage as far as the road goes; from that
point you can walk up, or be dragged up as you may prefer, but you will
probably find walking more comfortable."
"But," said Hanky, "come what may, I must be at the banquet. I am set
down to speak."
"The Mayor will explain that you have been taken somewhat suddenly
unwell."
Here Yram, who had been talking quietly with her husband, Dr. Downie, and
Mrs. Humdrum, motioned her son to silence.
"I feared," she said, "that difficulties might arise, though I did not
foresee how seriously they would affect my guests. Let Mrs. Humdrum on
our side, and Dr. Downie on that of the Professors, go into the next room
and talk the matter quietly over; let us then see whether we cannot agree
to be bound by their decision.
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