"
"You are right," replied Sir Alexander; "to waste time is useless." He
wheeled round on Woodden, who was standing near the door still holding
the paper-wrapped plant in front of him. "Now, Blockhead," he shouted,
"tell me why you brought that thing."
Woodden made no answer, only rocked a little. Sir Alexander reiterated
his command. This time Woodden set the plant upon a table and replied:
"If you're aspeaking to me, sir, that baint my name, and what's more,
if you calls me so again, I'll punch your head, whoever you be," and
very deliberately he rolled up the sleeves on his brawny arms, a sight
at which I too began to swell with inward merriment.
"Look here, father," said Mr. Stephen, stepping forward. "What's the
use of all this? The thing's perfectly plain. I did tell Woodden to
buy the plant at any price. What is more I gave him a written
authority which was passed up to the auctioneer. There's no getting
out of it. It is true it never occurred to me that it would go for
anything like ?2,300--the odd ?300 was more my idea, but Woodden only
obeyed his orders, and ought not to be abused for doing so.
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