Loving - Henry Green [61]
you're referrin' to,' Raunce said a bit daunted. 'The ring,' the assessor replied soft. The thapphire cluthter my company inthured on.' 'Is Mrs Tennant acquainted with you?' Raunce asked. 'She called us in,' the man said very sharp, again without lisping. 'Now is that sufficient?' 'She called you in?' Raunce echoed. 'You do know about the ring then?' 'Know about it? I've 'card Mrs Tennant mislaid one.' Then why tell me jutht now you never did,' Mike asked him very quiet. Raunce began to bluster. 'Me?' he cried, 'me tell you that? I never made any such statement and this girl and my lad here's my witnesses. What I very likely said was I didn't know your business an' I say I don't know it now any more than I did at the start. There you are.' He glanced as though for support at Edith. She was gazing at the seat of the armchair. She seemed distracted. 'Will you anthwer a fair quethtion?' Mr Mathewson began again. 'That'th above board ain't it?' he said almost friendly. 'Reply to a question? Well I don't know before you ask me do I?' Raunce replied. 'Then you won't anthwer?' 'I never said that. What are you tryin'? To trap someone?' 'Who mentioned a trap? I'm here to trathe a ring.' 'What's that got to do with me?' Raunce enquired. 'I don't know yet,' Mike replied gentle. 'Well get this then. I don't know nothin' an' I'm not sayin' nothin' without Mrs Tennant gives permission. So now have you got that straight?' They stared at each other. Edith went down on her knees again. She began to polish the bright steel fire irons with a leather. Catching Charley's eye behind Mike's back she shook her head urgent at him. Albert stood as though transfixed. 'Mithith Tennant thent for me to come over before she got back,' Mr Mathewson began again. This time he appeared to speak to Albert. 'Mrs Tennant's comin' back?' Raunce cried. 'Tho I'm led to underthtand.' 'Then thank God for that,' Raunce said relieved. 'She can clear a whole lot up Mrs Tennant can. But if she don't all I'll say is she can have my notice. Arriving down 'ere to bully the girls, then treatin' me like I was a criminal.' 'Lithten,' Mike began again as if tired. 'A ring'th been mithed. A very valuable thapphire cluthter. My company'th been called on to dithburthe. I've come down to invethtigate. I've driven a hundred mileth. Now do you underthtand?' 'O. K.,' Raunce answered. 'And now you can tell me somethin What's all this to do with me?' 'I'm asking you that's all,' the assessor said with sudden venor Again they stood and stared at one another. Then Raunce Albert spoke. 'I got it,' he confessed. 'You what?' Raunce shouted. Edith jumped to her feet. Raunc swallowed three times and began an, 'I tell you,' when Mike Matl ewson brought him up sharp, fairly hissing. 'I've had about enough d'you hear me? Now then my lad we'i getting placeth. You got it?' Albert was trembling but he stood his ground. 'Come on then,' Mike continued. 'Nothing to be afraid o Where've you got what?' The boy was silent in a palsy. There was a sort of lull. Edith wei over and knelt by him, arms by her sides, as though he was vei small and was to tie the scarf over her eyes. Until she turned on th assessor, blushing dark. 'He got an idea he meant an' who may you be to come scarii honest folk that earn a living?' She spoke loud. 'You get off h'ou there's the best place for you. We don't want none of your sort hen frightenin' his wits out of the lad. How should we care about her ol ring? If I was a man I'd show him off the premises,' she said pam ing to Raunce. 'That's an idea,' this man replied. He began to move slowly ove to the assessor who started to say, 'What idea did the young cha have?' Only to break off with a 'now then,' as he moved backwarc to the open french windows away from Charley. 'Plantin' words into people's mouths like it was evidence,' Raunc almost chanted as he advanced. 'When a lad says he got an ide makin' out he got the ring.' 'Well what wath the idea?' 'It's a disgrace that's all,' Charley said, now very close. 'You g< on off see?' 'All right I'm on my way,' Mr Mathewson announced.