"There," cried McKnight, "what did I tell you? What does that prove?"
"You hear, Mahdi?" said the Professor; "the gentleman wants to know what that proves?"
"It proves I know an ass when I see one, answered the Missing Link.
"You daylight robber! You unblushing fraud!" yelled McKnight.
"Stay," cried the Professor, with dignity. "Is it possible, sir, you have never heard of the art of ventriloquism? I am a ventriloquist. The voice you heard was my voice thrown into the mouth of the Missing Link. In this way we are teaching a magpie to speak to the man-monkey as a new feature of my marvellous entertainment. As to your libellous accusations, sir, you will probably hear further on that point from my solicitor, and now good-day."
"Be me sowl, this bates cock-fightin', McKnight," said the constable. "Th' monkey's right, Mack. Sure, it's an ass yiv made iv yersilf this day."
When McKnight and his party had gone, and the museum was empty of patrons, the Professor mopped his brow, and drew a great breath.
"It's lucky we were prepared for that emergency," he said.
"I dunno," said the man-monkey; "why shouldn't a Missing Link talk, anyhow?"
"Look here, Nickie, you're wantin' to be too talented," said the Professor. "Your overweening ambition will ruin everything. Why, bless my soul, you be wanting to shave clean and have a vote presently."