THE WOULDBEGOODS
Then Albert's uncle said, "Now, Oswald, I know I can trust you to speak the exact truth."
So Oswald did.
Then the white-whiskered fox-master laid the bullets before Albert's uncle, and I felt this would be a trial to his faith far worse than the rack or the thumbscrew in the days of the Armada.
And then Denny came in. He looked at the fox on the table.
"You found it, then?" he said.
The M. F. H. would have spoken, but Albert's uncle said, "One moment, Denny; you've seen this fox before?"
"Rather," said Denny; "I—"
But Albert's uncle said, "Take time. Think before you speak and say the exact truth. No, don't whisper to Oswald. This boy," he said to the injured fox-master, "has been with me since seven this morning. His tale, whatever it is, will be independent evidence."
But Denny would not speak, though again and again Albert's uncle told him to.
"I can't till I've asked Oswald something," he said at last.
White Whiskers said, "That looks bad—eh?"
But Oswald said, "Don't whisper, old chap. Ask me whatever you like, but speak up."
So Denny said, "I can't without breaking the secret oath."
So then Oswald began to see, and he said, "Break away for all you're worth, it's all right." And Denny said, drawing relief's deepest breath,
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