“That means nothing to me,” interrupted the other, “so I shall have to ask you to leave here at once.”
“But—” protested the clown.
“But, nothing,” returned the mouse. “Begone, I say, or I shall summon the guard without more ado.”
Then Dan suddenly remembered what the Pretty Lady had told him.
“Oh!” he hastened to say, “I almost forgot.” And bending over, he whispered, “Dickory Dock.”
“Well, now, that’s different,” cried the mouse in the friendliest tone, imaginable. “But why in the world didn’t you say that in the first place?”
“I’ll confess I just didn’t think,” answered Dan. “The Pretty Lady told me to repeat the words to whomever I met; but you see—well, I guess I hardly expected to—to—”
“To be challenged by a mere little mouse,” supplied the guard, as he sent forth a tiny but none the less merry laugh.
“And I was also told to watch where I stepped,” added Dan. “I hope I didn’t harm the sentry box of which you spoke.”
“Not a speck. But tell me what you are and what we may have the honor of doing for you?”