"What! do you shear poodles and curs?" he asked.
The loungers began to laugh. Vranic, whose face was being lathered, ground his teeth and grunted.
"I say, has he a medal round his neck?"
"What! do they give a medal to spies?" asked one of the men.
"No," quoth Bellacic; "but according to their law, no dog is allowed to go about without a medal, which proves that he has paid his taxes."
"Keep quiet," said the barber and kafedgee, "or I'll cut you!"
"Do government dogs also pay taxes?" said another man, smiling.
"Ask the cur! he'll tell you," replied Bellacic.
"Mind, Bellacic!" squeaked out Vranic, who was now shaved; "curs have teeth!"
"To grind, or to grin with?"