"
"Thank you." Under pretence of settling down more comfortably
against the pillow, the Major turned his head aside. "Then it seems
you knew this--this--"
"Hymen? Knew him intimate."
"What--what sort of man was he?"
Cai Tamblyn transferred the shreds of tobacco to a pouch made of
pig's bladder, pocketed it, and rubbed his two palms together,
chuckling softly.
"Look here, I'll show you the bust of 'en if you like; that is"--he
checked himself and added dubiously--"if you're sure it won't excite
you."
"Excite me?"
"Sure it won't give you a relapse or something o' the sort?
The woman Snell has stepped down to the Mayor's to wash up after the
light refreshments, and I'm in charge. Prettily she'll blow me up if
she comes back an' finds I've been an' gone an' excited you."
He cleared a space on the wash-stand. "I've no business to be in
here at all, really, talkin' wi' the pashent; but damme, you can't
think what 'tis like, sittin' by yourself in a museum. I wish
sometimes they'd take an' stuff me!"
He hobbled out and returned grunting under the weight of the bust,
which he set down upon the wash-stand, turning it so that the Major
might have a full view of its features.
"There!" he exclaimed, drawing back and panting a little.
"Good heavens!" The Major drew the bed-clothes hurriedly up to his
chin. "Was he--was he like _that_?"
"I thank the Lord he was not," Mr.
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