Part 46 (1/2)
”That's just it The fellows play upon the parsons, don't you know, and under cover of your 'sacred character' play all kinds of pranks How the dog ave you that!”
”Captain Frere,” said Mr Meekin, changing colour like a chae, ”your interpretation is, I am convinced, an incorrect one How could the poor raphy?”
”If you mean, fake up that paper,” returned Frere, unconsciously dropping into prison slang, ”I'll tell you He had a Bible, I suppose, while he riting?”
”I certainly permitted him the use of the Sacred Volued it inconsistent with the character of my Office to have refused it to him”
”Of course And that's just where you parsons are always putting your foot into it If you'd put your 'Office' into your pocket and open your eyes a bit--”
”Maurice! My dear Maurice!”
”I beg your pardon, Meekin,” says Maurice, with clu 'em, I came out in a shi+p with 'em, I've talked with 'em, and drank with 'em, and I'm down to all their et hold of, and texts are the only bits of learning ever taught ' chockfull of villainy and plots and conspiracies, what other book should they make use of to aid their infernal schemes but the one that the chaplain has ust, not unmixed with self-laudation
”Dear me, it is really very terrible,” says Meekin, as not ill-, but only self-complacent--”very terrible indeed”
”But unhappily true,” said Mr Pounce ”An olive? Thanks”
”Upon me soul!” burst out honest McNab, ”the hail seestem seems to be maist ill-calculated tae advance the wark o' reeformation”
”Mr McNab, I'll trouble you for the port,” said equally honest Vickers, bound hand and foot in the chains of the rules of the services And so, what seeerous discussion upon convict discipline, was stifled judiciously at the birth But Sylvia, prompted, perhaps, by curiosity, perhaps by a desire toMr Meekin, took up the ”confession,” that lay unopened beside his wine glass, and bore it off
”Come, Mr Meekin,” said Vickers, when the door closed behind the ladies, ”help yourself I aely, but you may rely on Frere, I assure you He knows more about convicts than any man on the island”
”I see, Captain Frere, that you have studied the criminal classes”
”So I have,'em I tell you my maxim It's some French fellow's, too, I believe, but that don'ton each other”
”Oh!” said Meekin ”It's the only way Why, my dear sir, if the prisoners were as faithful to each other as we are, we couldn't hold the island a week It's just because no round”
”I suppose it e, sir, if I had my way, I'd have it so that no prisoner should say a word to his right hand man, but his left hand man should tell ars their oarders Ha, ha!”