What Ho!
Stuffing the foliage back underneath your coat, you make your way through the garden towards the greenhouse.
"Halt!" cries a man, leaping out of nearby bush. Peering around the double barreled elephant gun he is cradling, you can see that it is Sir Robert. He twitches his walrus mustache at you. "Got you, you begonia thief!"
You look about you, then stare back at him. "Who are you talking to?"
"You, who the b---- h---- else would I be speaking to?" He squints a bit. "Hey, you're that Postletwaite character. And to think I once offered to loan you my leeches. Phaugh!" he snorts in disgust.
You have a realization. "Pray do not be saying 'phaugh' to me, my good man."
"And why the devil not?"
"Because I am not your begonia thief," you point out.
"Yes you are," he insists doggedly. He gestures with the cannon at the bulge in your coat. "They're right there under your arm," he growls.
"Ah-ha! These are NOT begonias," you smile easily, and once again pull the plant out with a florish. As the saying goes, a little knowledge can be a spiffy little bit to hold under your hat.
Sir Bob peers closer. "Hmmm, so they're not. Petunias, if I'm not mistaken. Why the devil are you about in the garden at midnight with a pot of petunias under your coat?"
"Oh, just airing them" Sometimes your mind works so fast, it amazes even you.
"AIRING them?" Sir Robert falls back on repeating your words.
"But of course, it looked like it might rain. Petunias always want a bit of airing in a sprinkle. Thought I'd do old Astley the favor, what."
"Good thing for you they aren't begonias. I've been waiting to get my hands on a begonia thief for some time. Quaint little custom the Wubuwumba of Southern Nambia have for when they catch a begonia thief. You see..."
You decide it's a good point to interrupt. "Love to hear got to go bye bye chat with you later" you say as you sprint over to the green house and deposit the plant.
Sir Bob watches you with an eagle eye and a cocked rifle. Your instincts tell you that it would be a bad time to try to steal another plant.
Begonialess, you head back to Fatty's room to break the news.
"Halt!" cries a man, leaping out of nearby bush. Peering around the double barreled elephant gun he is cradling, you can see that it is Sir Robert. He twitches his walrus mustache at you. "Got you, you begonia thief!"
You look about you, then stare back at him. "Who are you talking to?"
"You, who the b---- h---- else would I be speaking to?" He squints a bit. "Hey, you're that Postletwaite character. And to think I once offered to loan you my leeches. Phaugh!" he snorts in disgust.
You have a realization. "Pray do not be saying 'phaugh' to me, my good man."
"And why the devil not?"
"Because I am not your begonia thief," you point out.
"Yes you are," he insists doggedly. He gestures with the cannon at the bulge in your coat. "They're right there under your arm," he growls.
"Ah-ha! These are NOT begonias," you smile easily, and once again pull the plant out with a florish. As the saying goes, a little knowledge can be a spiffy little bit to hold under your hat.
Sir Bob peers closer. "Hmmm, so they're not. Petunias, if I'm not mistaken. Why the devil are you about in the garden at midnight with a pot of petunias under your coat?"
"Oh, just airing them" Sometimes your mind works so fast, it amazes even you.
"AIRING them?" Sir Robert falls back on repeating your words.
"But of course, it looked like it might rain. Petunias always want a bit of airing in a sprinkle. Thought I'd do old Astley the favor, what."
"Good thing for you they aren't begonias. I've been waiting to get my hands on a begonia thief for some time. Quaint little custom the Wubuwumba of Southern Nambia have for when they catch a begonia thief. You see..."
You decide it's a good point to interrupt. "Love to hear got to go bye bye chat with you later" you say as you sprint over to the green house and deposit the plant.
Sir Bob watches you with an eagle eye and a cocked rifle. Your instincts tell you that it would be a bad time to try to steal another plant.
Begonialess, you head back to Fatty's room to break the news.