Call it a Fib

Stamford and the constable believed me when I told them that both men had escaped before we arrived, but Mary merely raised an eyebrow, and Alfie looked upon my freshly battered-knuckles with undisguised skepticism. "They ain't never..." the boy began, and then silenced himself reluctantly at my frown.

"They probably heard us coming and bolted before they could do more damage," I theorized mendaciously. "They wouldn't risk facing armed men."

"As long as they're gone," my wife said, giving me a kiss before going off to the kitchen to discover whether or not we would still have servants come morning.

Call it a Fib

Stamford and the constable believed me when I told them that both men had escaped before we arrived, but Mary merely raised an eyebrow, and Alfie looked upon my freshly battered-knuckles with undisguised skepticism. "They ain't never..." the boy began, and then silenced himself reluctantly at my frown.

"They probably heard us coming and bolted before they could do more damage," I theorized mendaciously. "They wouldn't risk facing armed men."

"As long as they're gone," my wife said, giving me a kiss before going off to the kitchen to discover whether or not we would still have servants come morning.