“A tout? What do you mean?”
“Well, a cat’s-paw, if you like better.”
Hyacinth stared. “For whom, pray?”
“Or a deep-sea fisherman, if you like better still. I give you your choice of comparisons. I made them up as we came along in the hansom. He throws his nets and hauls in the little fishes—the pretty little shining, wriggling fishes. They are all for her; she swallows ’em down.”
“For her? Do you mean the Princess?”
“Who else should I mean? Take care, my tadpole!”
“Why should I take care? The other day you told me not to.”
“Yes, I remember. But now I see more.”
“Did he speak of her? What did he say?” Hyacinth eagerly asked.
“I can’t tell you now what he said, but I’ll tell you what I guessed.”