“You don't mean it,” said the Sergeant, sorrowfully; “but tell me all about it,” and then Flutters told him everything about the Bonifaces that he thought could by any possibility be of any interest to him, till at last he felt justified in introducing his own little matter.
“But what I came to see about was this—”
“Oh, to be sure,” said the Sergeant. “I had almost forgotten to wonder what brought you here.”
“Well,” said Flutters, solemnly, “I have a great favor to ask of you, Sergeant.”
“You're not giving me much time to do it, then,” said the Sergeant, “seeing as every British soldier quits the city day after to-morrow.”
“That's the reason I came,” answered Flutters, excitedly, “it's in England that I want the favor done.”
“Why, what have you to do with England, I'd like to know?” with evident astonishment.
“Why, England was my home,” Flutters answered, rather proudly; “don't you know I belonged to an English circus?”
“Why, so you did; I'd forgotten about that.” And then there was a little pause, while the Sergeant waited for further developments, and while Flutters was meditating how he had best put his case.
“I once heard you say, Sergeant, that your old home was somewhere in Cheshire, and that's where my father lives. His name is Wainright.”