What Ho!

You look for Fatty. You reflect a moment and head off to the larder. Nothing like a bit of cold lamb to flush out a Fenwick.

Leaning casually against the doorjam of the entrance, you cough to draw his attention.

"What ho, Fatty!" you say dramatically.

"Shove off, Postletwaite. And do something about that d---d cough of yours before you get us all sick."

This does not sound much like the Fatty you know, and you feel wounded by his words.

"Come now, Fatty. What happened to my old chum I went to Eton with?"

"Your old chum at Eton had yet to have you humiliate him in public, steal his girl, then swipe the one chance he had to get in good with said girl. That's what happened." He rips a chop in half with his teeth.

You blink. "You mean you didn't steal the begonias?"

"How could I, when you've already nabbed them? And then told me you didn't have them. Ha! I should have realized that even you couldn't have been that stupid," he says bitterly.

"But Fatty, I don't HAVE the begonias."

"Ha! Hidden them somewhere, no doubt, or destroyed them to spite me?"

"No, no. Not a single shoot of begonias has ever crossed my palm."

"Really?" Fatty seems a bit gentler.

"Absolutely!" You drive in the pitch.

"Well then, I am sorry old chum. I really did think you had betrayed me. I suppose I owe you an apology. Want a cold chop?"

"Ah, not thanks, I have more questioning."

"Your loss," Fatty says without regret.


You head off to question