“All right, sir, I’ll take it; and am I to put it in the box?”
“No. I forgot. It would eat the skins and things.”
“That he would and no mistake,” said Magglin, grinning hugely. “Shall I leave him in the can? There is a stone in the spout so as he can’t squeeze his way out, for he’ll go through any hole a’most.”
“Yes; put it right up in the dark corner at the far end.”
“Right, sir. And you owe me five shillin’.”
“No, it’s to your friend.”
“All the same, sir. Thank-ye.”
“I’m afraid he has cheated me,” said Mercer thoughtfully, as we walked away. “Now I come to recollect, his old ferret had a bit nipped out of the top of its little ear like that has, and Magg said a rat bit it out one day.”
“If he has cheated you, I wouldn’t pay for it,” I said.