“Ah, well, I dare say it will come to you by-and-by; but there are some words that Shakespeare put into the mouth of an old court official in Hamlet, when he was bidding his son good-bye before he went abroad. There, don’t yawn, either of you. I am only trying to quote it to you because to my mind they were very good words, and just suitable for you, because they were about fighting: ‘Beware of entrance to a quarrel; but being in, bear’t that the opposer may beware of thee; and—’ Humph! Ah, dear me, let me see; there was something else about borrowing and lending. But never mind that. It was about the fighting that I wanted to speak, and the long and short of it was, don’t fight, boys, if you can possibly help it; but if you do fight, show the other fellow that you know how. There, that’s enough about that. Now then, what shall we talk about next?—Yes, waiter, what is it?”
“Beg pardon, sir, but there’s a person, sir, in the hall wants to know if he can see the young gentlemen.”
“Eh? Who is it?” said the Colonel sharply. “Not one of the masters?”
“No, sir. It’s the proprietor, sir, of the big wild-beast show, sir, in the field—Mr Ramball, sir.”
“Oh, pooh! pooh!” cried the Colonel. “Tell him the young gentlemen are engaged, and don’t care to visit his show to-night.”
“Yes, sir. But beg pardon, sir, I don’t think it’s about that. He’s in great trouble about something, sir. He’s well-known here, sir; has a large farm two or three miles away where he keeps his wild things when he’s not taking them round the country.”
“Well, but—” began the Colonel.
“Said it was very particular business, sir, and he must see the young gentlemen.”
“Why, it must be something about his elephant, father,” cried Glyn eagerly.
“Well, but, my dear boys, you can’t be at the beck and call of this man because he owns animals that he can’t manage. But there, there, I don’t want you two to withhold help when you can give it. We’ll hear what he has to say.—We’ll come out and speak to him.—I’ll come, boys, because you may want to refer to me.”