“To let you into a secret,” replied sly Billy, “I’ve made the entire rounds, but there’s nothing here that can hold a candle to your beauty. That’s my candid opinion. You know I’m not one to flatter, and you can depend on my word.”
“Such appreciation of one’s good points deserves some substantial recognition,” thought the Duke, and so he said:
“By the way, Billy, are you going to stay over night? If so, I’ll be proud to have you as my guest, for my quarters here are plenty large enough to accommodate you.”
“That is just like your generous self,” replied the goat. “And while I had thought to return to Cloverleaf Farm at nightfall, the prospect of being entertained by you leads me to change my plans. I’ll be more than delighted to accept, and will be back soon after twilight.”
“Yes, that might be best, for the keepers feed us about six o’clock, and if you were found here, they might not like it. However, I shall save my supper until you arrive, and then we will dine together.”
“Agreed! I’ll be off now, and thank you again for your most hospitable offer.”
CHAPTER VII
THE LAUGHING GALLERY
I KNOW not what other people think about the matter, but there is nothing in this wide, wide world so useful to me as flattery,” meditated Billy after leaving the Duke of Windham. “It will bring quicker returns than anything else, and I fancy that with this weapon I can conquer almost any foe.
“Now the Duke of Windham has not the faintest idea that my call was made for the sole reason that I wanted a comfortable lodging for the night, and that I had planned my visit with care. He is congratulating himself on his bigness of heart this very moment, that I’ll wager. Anyway, my object is attained, and now I can enjoy myself with no thought or dread of the night. The time was when I did not think anything of spending a night in the open, but then it is not so much that I’m growing old as it is these disagreeable, rheumatism-breeding fogs that accompany the October nights.”