Gerald looked up and was about to speak eagerly when Geary appeared again with a fresh supply of rolls. "Oh, the Pixy's House," said Haskins carelessly, "what's that?"
"Why, you know----" began Tod foolishly, when he caught sight of a warning scowl on Haskins' face, and a look of interest on that of Geary's, "you know," went on Tod artfully, "that I can't talk if you interrupt."
"But it's all so dull," objected Haskins, with a shrug.
"Not what I am about to tell. This laborer said that a lunatic lived in the Pixy's House, looked after by another lunatic."
"The blind leading the blind. Go on."
"The first lunatic is a girl, and the second an old woman. The girl never comes out, and no one has ever seen her, but the old woman does shopping and all the rest of it. That's all."
"What infernal rubbish!" said Haskins crossly. He did not like his unknown princess to dwindle to a commonplace lunatic. And yet, when he remembered the spoken message, it did seem a trifle mad. "Well, and did you call at the Pixy's House?"
"Not me. I walked in another direction, and came back to breakfast. I have no use for crazy people."
"Wid all respect, jemplem," remarked Mr. Geary unexpectedly, "de story ob dat man is all twisty-turney."
"Oh!" said Haskins, apparently careless, but really with anxiety, "so you know of this queer business, Geary?"