صفحة 348 من 657

Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not

been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had

no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off

both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a

hopeless attempt at recovering them."

"Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to

eat it."

"To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his

excitement.

"Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so.

But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is

about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your

purpose equally well?"

"Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of

relief.

"Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of

your own bird, so if you wish-"