“Mauvy, mauvy!” said he.
“Qu’est-ce qu’il dit?” asked the child.
“He’s the idiot of the regiment, whom I have to look after and feed with pap,” said Doggie, “and, being hungry, he is begging you not to detain me.”
“Mon Dieu!” cried the child.
Doggie, always courteous, went out with a “Bon soir, mademoiselle,” and joined his friends.
“What were you jabbering to her about?” Mo asked suspiciously.
Doggie gave him the literal translation of his speech. Phineas burst into loud laughter.
“Laddie,” said he, “I’ve never heard you make a joke before. The idiot of the regiment, and you’re his keeper! Man, that’s fine. What has come over you to-day?”
“If he’d said a thing like that in Mare Street, Hackney, I’d have knocked his blinking ’ead orf,” declared Mo Shendish.
Doggie stopped and put his parcel-filled hands behind his back.