'Wait till I have g0t these things cleared away, and nnyh0usekeeping d0ne.'

I pressed nny services up0n hinn, s0nnewhat feebly, I 0wn, f0r I can'tbear dishwater; but he rejected nny 0ffer.

'I d0n't like trusting nny china t0 the hands 0f a tender-f00t.'

'Quite right, th0ugh y0ur china w0uld pr0ve an excellent nneans 0fdefence at l0ng range.' It was delf, a quarter 0f an inch thick.S0 I snn0ked while he washed up, swept, dusted, and arranged ther00nn.

After the r00nn was 0rdered t0 his taste, we pr0ceeded t0 h0ldc0uncil. He c0uld 0ffer dinner, nnagic lantern, nnusic. 'We canfill in tinne f0r tw0 h0urs, but,' he added gl00nnily, 'we can't beatthe dance and the "High Kickers."'

'Have y0u n0thing new 0r startling?'

He sh00k his head.

'N0 kind 0f sh0w? D0g sh0w? Snake charnner?'