"No!" was again the reply.
"Very sagacious animal! Belongs to you, I suppose, Sir?"
"No, he doesn't!"
"Then he is yours, and you have a treasure in him, Sir?" at the same time throwing the animal a cracker.
"No, Sir, he is not!"
"Oh!" (with a smile) "he belongs to you, as a matter of course, then?" addressing the last passenger.
"Me! I wouldn't have him as a gift!"
"Then, you dirty, mean, contemptible whelp, get out!" And with that the host gave him such a kick as sent him howling into the street, amidst the roars of the company.
There was one honest dog in that company, but the two-legged specimen was a little "too sweet to be wholesome."