Sunday night firm determined steps took Mr. Pottle to the bungalow of Mrs. Gallup. He heard Mr. Deeley's sweet resonant voice in the living room. He smiled grimly.
"I was just telling Blossom about a curious little animal I take rather a special interest in," began the man from Xenia, with a condescending nod to Mr. Pottle.
Mr. Pottle checked the frown that had started to gather at "Blossom," and asked politely, "And what is the beast's name?"
"The aard-vark," replied Mr. Deeley. "He is——"
"The Cape ant bear," finished Mr. Pottle, "or earth pig. He lives on ants, burrows rapidly, and can be easily killed by a smart blow on his sensitive snout."
Mr. Deeley stared; Mrs. Gallup stared; Mr. Pottle sailed on serenely.
"A very interesting beast, the aard-vark. But to my mind not so interesting as the long-nosed bandicoot. You know the long-nosed bandicoot, I presume, Mr. Deeley?"
"Well, not under that name," retorted the Xenia sage. "You don't mean antelope?"
"By no means," said Mr. Pottle with a superior smile. "I said bandicoot—B-a-n-d-i-coot. He is a Peramelidœ of the Marsupial family, meaning he carries his young in a pouch like a kangaroo."
"How cute!" murmured Mrs. Gallup.