No, there it was on the staple, the tarpaulin bag stamped with the
Imperial Eagle.
He took it down.
"This is the boy I meant. Won't you leave this with us?"
The Gentleman shook his head.
"What you going to do with it?" mockingly.
"What I'm going to do with you."
Man and boy, hugging close in the window, each felt the other tauten.
"What's that?"
The other rolled his eyes heavenward.
The Parson was breathing through his nose.