“Oh, no, no,” cried the Doctor. “It is not necessary, my man, and we have no room for such things in my establishment.”
“Ah, excuse me, sir,” said the man eagerly; “you are thinking I mean something big and awkward; but a nice little monkey, sir, or a bird?”
“Monkeys don’t want monkeys,” said Slegge, in a whisper to Burney, just loud enough for Glyn to hear, and making him turn sharply upon the speaker.
“Have a baboon, Severn,” said Slegge maliciously, for he met the boy’s flashing eyes.
“What for?” said Glyn coolly.
“Oh, I don’t know,” continued Slegge, after a glance at the boys around, who burst into a low series of titters. “I would if I were you. There’s a nice brotherly look about that one in the cage, and he hasn’t got a tail.”
“Mr Severn,” said the Doctor, “come here. I want you to tell Mr Ramball that you do not need any recompense for the services you have performed. Mr Singh has already spoken.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll come,” replied the boy quickly, and he did as requested, fully conscious the while that Slegge was saying something disparaging to the nearest boys, and that the Professor had moved up behind Singh and was talking to him again.
“Do you like this Professor Barclay?” said Glyn as they were walking back towards the school side by side.
“Oh, I don’t know. He’s very pleasant to talk to, of course, for he knows so much about Indian things.”