human
Oh!
gpt
Something more gone?
human
No, uncle; there's your watch. And here's your gold pencil-case too, continued the boy, as he raised the corner of the book.
gpt
Why, they have been turning the watch-ribbon into a marker, and somebody has been writing here on the fly-leaf.
human
Thank goodness! grunted Uncle Paul.
gpt
That's something saved out of the fire. Never mind the writing. But they have taken our clothes.
human
It's in French, I think, uncle, but I can't quite make it out.
gpt
French! cried Uncle Paul fiercely.
human
Why, of course! How stupid! I might have known. We have been attacked in the night by a gang of old Napoleon's scum. That man's bound to be the curse of my life. Don't stand staring there, boy. Can't you see?
gpt
No, uncle, said the boy sturdily.
human
What nonsense! Napoleon couldn't have invaded England in the night to come and steal our clothes.
gpt
Bah! Idiot! Can't you see it's some of those scoundrelly French prisoners who escaped yesterday? That vagabond of a boy perhaps that you pampered off and were feeding with our good English provisions. Now you see the consequences. The ungrateful rapparee--Oh no, but that's Irish, and he'd be French.
human
Yes, uncle,