"Eh?"
"What made you think there was something wrong with our internal machinery, whereby we might be wanting in a proper regard for victuals?"
The man stared at Tom, and while a few at the table snickered, the man himself looked more sour than ever.
"See here, don't you poke fun at me!" he cried.
"Never dreamed of it, my dear sir," said Tom, unruffled. "By the way, how's your heart?"
"Why—er—my heart's all right."
"Glad to hear it. Yesterday I heard of a donkey who had his heart on the wrong side of his body. Odd case, wasn't it?"
"See here, you young imp, do you mean to call me a—er—a donkey?" and the man grew red in the face.
"A donkey? Why, no, sir! What put such a notion in your head?"
"You said—"