"'Well,' I said, in desperation, 'why do cats bite?—hang it all!' I thought, 'it's like a burned-cork show, and I'm Mr. Bones and he's Tambo!'
"Then he smiled gently. 'Young man,' he said, 'cats bite because they feed on catnip. I have reasoned it out.'
"I stared at him in blank astonishment. Was this benevolent-looking old party poking fun at me? Was he paying me up for the morning's snub? Was he a malignant and revengeful old party, or was he merely feeble-minded? Who might he be? What was he doing here in Antwerp—what was he doing now?—for the bald one had turned familiarly to the beautiful girl in white.
"'Wilhelmina,' he said, 'do you feel chilly?' The girl shook her head.
"'Not in the least, papa.'
"'Her father!' I thought—'her father!' Thank God she did not say 'popper'!
"'I have been to the Zoo to-day,' announced the bald one, turning towards me.
"'Ah, indeed,' I observed; 'er—I trust you enjoyed it.'
"'I have been contemplating the apes,' he continued, dreamily. 'Yes, contemplating the apes.'
"I tried to look interested.