The Prince and The Pauper by Mark Twain Chapter 24 Page 4

“’Tis making a mighty matter, indeed, out of a jest; I but plagued the woman for mine amusement.”

“Kept you the woman’s pig for amusement?”

The man answered sharply —

“Nought else, good sir — I tell thee ’twas but a jest.”

“I do begin to believe thee,” said Hendon, with a perplexing mixture of mockery and half-conviction in his tone; “but tarry thou here a moment whilst I run and ask his worship — for nathless, he being a man experienced in law, in jests, in — ”

He was moving away, still talking; the constable hesitated, fidgeted, spat out an oath or two, then cried out —