"It's all over blood!"
"What! What do you say?" shouted the master, in a tone of dismay. "Do you want a thousand too?"
"Indeed, no, sir; and I beg pardon; but do look at your hand."
Mr. Grey held up his hand, examined it, and then burst out into a loud shout of laughter. When he could speak he cried:
"You charming idiot! You will kill me with your droll ways. That dirty wretch who went out touched my hand. I had no water near me, so I poured some claret over my hand and forgot to wipe it."
He approached James and held out his hand, saying, "Look." Then added, in a tone of solemn amusement: "James, there was once a man who died of laughing at seeing an ass eat. I do think I shall die of laughing at hearing a donkey talk. Bring me the coffee. Go."
And as the servant was leaving the room, Mr. Grey broke out into a laugh of quiet self-congratulation on the fact of his possessing such a wonderful source of amusement in his servant, James.