Of course Mr.Merrick couldn't mean anything by this chance shot, so he must be thrown off the scent.
"You have a disagreeable way of making remarks, sir, and I have no time to listen to foolish speeches.

Tomorrow is election day and I've a good many details yet to arrange." "No chance of you're getting in jail, is there ?" "What do you mean by that ?" "I only thought that if you'd done anything liable to make trouble, you'd have to arrange your affairs for a long spell in jail.

Politicians sometimes make mistakes.

But you're such an honest man, Mr.Hopkins, you couldn't possibly go crooked." Mr.Hopkins felt shaky again, and looked at his tormentor earnestly, trying to discern whether there was any real knowledge beneath this innuendo.

But Uncle John met his gaze with a cheerful smile and continued: "I guess you've got a hard fight ahead of you.