"Gipsy," replied Sir Arthur without hesitation, "is top-hole."
"How quaint and original you always are in your expressions!" cooed my neighbour. "But I am so glad to hear about Gipsy. Then the dear thing has quite recovered?"
"Absolutely," replied Dicky courageously.
Mrs. Botley-Markham cooed again. Then she enquired, confidentially:--
"Now tell me, what was it?"
"What was it?" echoed The Freak cautiously. "Ah!"
"Yes; what was it?" pursued his interlocutor, much intrigued. "Don't tell me they never found out!"
"Never. At least," admitted The Freak guardedly, "not for some time."
"Then they actually operated without being sure?" exclaimed Mrs. Botley-Markham, shuddering.
Dicky, making up his arrears with a portion of quail, inclined his head gravely, and the quail reached its destination.