“I was present the other day, Mr. Goarly, when that dead fox was exposed to view.”

“Was you, sir?”

“I was given to understand that you had destroyed the brute.”

“Don’t you believe a word on it then,” said the woman interposing.  “He didn’t do nothing of the kind.  Who ever seed him a’ buying of red herrings and p’ison?”

“Hold your jaw,” said Goarly,—­familiarly.  “Let ’em prove it.  I don’t know who you are, sir; but let ’em prove it”

“My name, Mr. Goarly, is Elias Gotobed.  I am an American citizen, and Senator for the State of Mickewa.”  Mr. and Mrs. Goarly shook their heads at every separate item of information tendered to them.  “I am on a visit to this country and am at present staying at the house of my friend, Mr. John Morton.”

“He’s the gentl’man from Bragton, Dan.”

“Hold your jaw, can’t you?” said the husband.  Then he touched his hat to the Senator intending to signify that the Senator might, if he pleased, continue his narrative.

“If you did kill that fox, Mr. Goarly, I think you were quite right to kill him.”  Then Goarly winked at him, “I cannot imagine that even the laws of England could justify a man in perpetuating a breed of wild animals that are destructive to his neighbours’ property.”

“I could shoot ’un; not a doubt about that, Mister.  I could shoot ’un; and I wull.”

“Have a care, Dan,” whispered Mrs. Goarly.

“Hold your jaw,—­will ye?  I could shoot ’un, Mister.  I don’t rightly know about p’ison.”

“That fox we saw was poisoned I suppose,” said the Senator carelessly.

“Have a care, Dan;—­have a care!” whispered the wife.

“Allow me to assure both of you,” said the Senator, “that you need fear nothing from me.  I have come quite as a friend.”

“Thank ’ee, sir,” said Goarly again touching his hat.

“It seems to me,” said the Senator, “that in this matter a great many men are leagued together against you.”

“You may say that, sir.  I didn’t just catch your name, sir.”

“My name is Gotobed;—­Gotobed; Elias Gotobed, Senator from the State of Mickewa to the United States Congress.”  Mrs. Goarly who understood nothing of all these titles, and who had all along doubted, dropped a suspicious curtsey.  Goarly, who understood a little now, took his hat altogether off.  He was very much puzzled but inclined to think that if he managed matters rightly, profit might be got out of this very strange meeting.  “In my country, Mr. Goarly, all men are free and equal.”

“That’s a fine thing, sir.”

“It is a fine thing, my friend, if properly understood and properly used.  Coming from such a country I was shocked to see so many rich men banded together against one who I suppose is not rich.”

“Very far from it,” said the woman.

“It’s my own land, you know,” said Goarly who was proud of his position as a landowner.  “No one can’t touch me on it, as long as the rates is paid.  I’m as good a man here,”—­and he stamped his foot on the ground,—­“as his Lordship is in that there wood.”