"Oh, all this plague business,—eels and guinea pigs and rats."
Payner snickered. "Did they send you?"
"No, they didn't. That is, not really and officially. I'm just making inquiries in the general interest of peace."
Payner sniffed. "What business is it of yours?"
Owen hesitated. "Oh, I'd like to help both sides. I don't want to see either suffer."
"I'm not suffering, I can tell you that. I didn't begin this thing, and I'm not going to cry baby. Those fellows attacked me without any kind of provocation, sneaked into my room, ripped it up, and damaged a lot of valuable specimens. If they've had enough, the least they can do is to come here and apologize and promise to behave."
"And you'll agree to apologize, too?" asked the mediator.
"Apologize nothing! I'll tell 'em what I'll do, when they come."
Feeling somewhat humble over the failure of his mission, and at the same time more or less persuaded of the justice of Payner's cause, Owen returned to Number 7 and called the Pecks to the door.
"Apologize!" cried Donald, when Owen finished his report; "apologize for having eels put in your bed and rats thrown at you? Never!"