What Ho!

You find the infernal girl peaceably reading a book on the veranda. She kicks her feet occasionally as she gets to good bits.

While she's thus distracted, you are able to approach cautiously. As your shadow crosses over her pipsqueak frame, she looks up crossly and wrinkles her nose.

"Petey, you're in my light. Move!"

You oblige, stepping to one side. She continues the nose wrinkling.

"Why on earth are you gadding about in that get up?"

"I thought that wearing a smoking jacket would be keeping in the genre, as it were, what" you explain.

She sniffs again. "Well, it stinks. Cheese it."

Continuing in your obliging motif, you shuck the coat and fold it.

Cuddy goes back to reading.

"I say, Cuddy, I had a few ques...."

"Shhhhhhh! I'm at the bit with the body." Ever the gentleman, you wait a few minutes rocking gently back and forth on your heels.

Cuddy closes the book and stows it on her lap. "Now, then, what is my lambykins getting all worked up about?"

Time to take a stern line and crack the creature's resolve. You firmly fold your arms and say, "See here Cuddy, I know you know more about this begonia theft then you're letting on."

She giggles. "Of course I do! I'm the one who swiped 'em."

This is a bit too easy. You were hoping rather for a dramatic drawing room scene later on this evening. "Um, YOU stole the flowers?"

"Stealing is such an ugly word, Petey, but yes. How else could I bribe Daddy to fund an orphanage? Sometimes one has to let the ends justify the means, you know."

Her lack of morality is amazing, even for one of her sex. "So, I don't suppose I could talk you into putting the begonias back...."

"You're right. You can't suppose that."

"Not even if I appeal to your sense of law abiding honour?"

"Don't have one."

Well, that's true enough. You sigh.

She cocks a patronizing head "Oh, come now Petey, don't worry your little noggin about this. I'll get my orphanage and we'll be married in just a few short months. Won't that be just grand!"

"Just grand," you echo in a sepulchral tone.

Having dismissed you, Cuddy shoves her pert honker back into the pages of her book. You swing your arms back and forth a bit, then trudge off to question
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