"Now, look here, Grant, you knew that man was down the garden." "Yes, Sir Francis." "And didn't you go to join him ?" "Yes, Sir Francis." "To get a lot of my pears ?" "No, Sir Francis." "Then why did you go ?" he thundered.
I was silent.
"Do you hear, sir ?" "Yes, Sir Francis." "Then speak, sir." I remained silent.
"Will you tell me why you went down the garden to join that man ?" I looked at poor Ike, and felt that if I spoke it would be to get him discharged, so I preferred to remain silent, and said not a word.
"Will you speak, sir ?" cried Sir Francis, beating the table with his fist.
"I can't tell you, Sir Francis." "You mean you won't, sir ?" "Yes, Sir Francis." "Why not tell the whole truth, Grant ?" said Mr Solomon, reproachfully.
"Because I can't, sir," I replied sadly.
"Be silent, Brownsmith," cried Sir Francis fiercely.
"He's too good a mate to tell," said Ike stoutly.

"Here, I may as well make a clean breast of it, and here it is.

I'm an old soldier, sir, and--well, theer, it got hold of me at dinner-time.

'Stead of having anything to eat I had a lot to drink, having had some salt herrin' for breakfast, and I suppose I took too much." "Herring, my man ?" "No, your worship, beer; and I went to sleep down among the bushes.
There, that's the honest truth, Mr Brownsmith's brother.

Fact as fact." "I believe you, Ike," said Mr Solomon.