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HANNAH.
Yes, he's in our cell.
BLORE.
Ah! And where is the hapartment in question?
HANNAH.
The cell? That's it!
BLORE.
[_Looking round in horror._] Oh!
HANNAH.
The "Strong-box" they call it in St. Marvells.
BLORE.
Oh, my goodness, honly fancy! [_Whimpering to himself._] And 'im accustomed to his shavin' water at h'eight and my kindly hand to b.u.t.ton his gaiters. Oh, here's a warnin'!
HANNAH.
Whatever is the matter with you, Edward?
BLORE.
'Annah, 'Annah, my dear, it's this very prisoner what I 'ave called on you respectin'.
HANNAH.
Oh, then the honor ain't a compliment to me, after all, Mr. Blore?
BLORE.
I'm killing two birds with one stone, my dear.
HANNAH.
[_Throwing the cards into BLORE'S hat._] You can take them back to the Deanery with Mrs. Topping's comps.
BLORE.
[_Shaking the cards out of his hat and replacing them in his pocket-book._] I will leave them hon you again to-morrow, 'Annah. But, 'Annah deary, do you know that this hunfortunate man was took in our stables last night.
HANNAH.
No, I never ask Noah nothing about Queen's business. He don't want _two_ women over him!
BLORE.
Then you 'aven't seen the miserable culprit?
HANNAH.
Lor' no. I was in bed hours when Noah brought 'im 'ome. I take no interest in it all. They tell us it's only a wretched poacher or a petty larcery we'll get in St. Marvells. My poor Noah ain't never likely to have the chance of a horrid murder in a place what returns a Conservative. My joint's burning.
[_Kneeling to look into the oven._
BLORE.
But, 'Annah, suppose this case you've got 'old of now is a case what'll shake old England to its basis! Suppose it means columns in the paper with Topping's name a-figurin'! Suppose as family readin', it 'old its own with divorce cases!
HANNAH.
Hullo! You know something about this arrest, you do!
BLORE.
No, no, I don't! I merely said suppose. I merely wish to encourage you, 'Annah; to implant an 'ope that crime may brighten your wedded life.
HANNAH.
[_Sitting at the table and referring to an official book._] The man was found trespa.s.sing in the Deanery Stables with intent--refuses to give his name or any account of 'isself.
BLORE.
[_To himself._] If I could honly find hout whether Dandy d.i.c.k had any of the medicine it would so guide me at the Races. What am I to do? It doesn't appear that the 'orse in the stables--took it, does it?
HANNAH.
[_Looking up sharply._] Took what?
BLORE.
Er--took fright. You're sure there's no confession of any sort, 'Annah dear?
[_As he is bending over HANNAH, NOAH TOPPING appears. NOAH is a dense-looking ugly countryman, with red hair, a bristling heard, and a vindictive leer. He is dressed in ill-fitting clothes, as a rural Police Constable._
NOAH.
[_Fiercely._] 'Annah!
HANNAH.
[_Starting and replacing the book._] Oh don't! This is Mr. Blore from the Deanery come to see us--an old friend o' mine!
