“His reverence may be hard of hearing. Shall I do the asking of him?” And the great bullyboy hesitated not to roar out in thundering tones: “Mister Otter here be asking of ’ee, and this whole company be waiting to know from ’ee, what god-darned trick you played on young Redfern afore he died.”

“I must beg you, Mr. Manley,” said Darnley Otter, whose face, as Wolf watched it, had become stiff as a mask, “I must beg you not to make a scene tonight.”

“I am still quite⁠ ⁠… quite⁠ ⁠… at a loss⁠ ⁠… a loss to understand,” began the agitated clergyman, moving forward a step or two towards his aggressor.

But Mr. Torp interrupted him. “Ask thee bloody questions of thee wone bloody millpond and don’t lift up thee’s roaring voice among thee’s betters!”