"Ratty, please!" Toad raised clasped paws in supplication. "You and Mole are my only hope!"
"Only hope of escape, you mean!" Inspector Badger laid a heavy paw on Toad's shoulder. "You tell these gentlemen what you came to, and be quick about it!"
The Water Rat tutted, the Mole coming forward and helping their client to a chair. "Another smash, Toad?"
"I wasn't going that fast," Toad muttered. "If the brake hadn't failed..."
Badger snorted. "Since when have you ever even looked at a brake lever, you wretched animal?"
Rat leant forward, inspecting Toad's battered overcoat keenly. "Or seen inside an engine, I'll wager... Very well, Toad, I accept your case – on condition," holding up a stern forefinger, "that you promise solemnly never to touch another motorcar!"
Toad's lip trembled piteously, but then he heaved a deep sigh. "If you will only intercede for me, dear Rat, it shall be as you say."
"Now, look here...!" Badger's protest was cut off by the Rat jumping up.
"That motorcar was delivered yesterday without mishap, it couldn't possibly have failed without assistance."
Mole gasped. "Oh, Ratty! You don't think...?"
Rat's eyes gleamed, slipping a pistol into his coat pocket. "That we haven't yet seen the last of the notorious Professor Weasel in these parts. Mole, be so good as to ready the boat..."