... Comin' home Gawd knows when, leavin' de front do' unlocked de
res' o' de night, so's bugglers and murderers and Gawd knows who could
walk right in hyar----"
Dundee, itching to consult his own copy of "Who's Who", flung a glance
at the parrot's cage, intending to pacify the mournful mulatto by
scolding his "Watson" roundly. But he changed his mind and consoled the
chambermaid instead:
"Just tell Mr. Wilson that for once he's wrong. You did _not_ forget to
cover Cap'n's cage, Belle. Look!"
The girl's dull eyes bulged as they took in the cage, completely swathed
in a square of black silk.
"Gawd's sake, Mistah Dundee!" she ejaculated. "_I_ didn't put dat covah
on dat bird's cage! An' neithah did Mis' Bowen, 'cause she been laid up
with rheumatiz eveh since you lef, an' eveh las' endurin' thing in dis
ol' house has been lef fo' me to do!"
"Then I suppose the indignant Mr. Wilson came up and covered Cap'n
himself," Dundee suggested, crossing the room to the bookcase which
stood within reaching distance of his big leather-covered armchair.
"Him?" Belle snorted. "How he gonna get in hyer widout no key? 'Sides,
he'd a-tol' me if'n----"
"Belle, how many times must I ask you not to misplace my things?" Dundee
cut in irritably, for he was tired of the discussion, and angry that his
copy of "Who's Who" was missing from its customary place in the
bookcase.
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