It was then that he made the remarkwhich is the
pivot of this precise though laborious anecdote. Pierce heard only the last words of
it:Oh, he promised he was bringing something for the sale. A sort of reversal of the
parturiunt montes; I put in a little pigand it brought forth an elephant. I mean,
why I rather approve of people being backgrounds. A sort of reversal of the
parturiunt montes; I put in a little pigand it brought forth an elephant. At least
it could have been explained by anybody except White. As he did so James Crane
walked into the room. It scaled the slope so swiftly,in great strides, that it
became instantly self-evident what it was. He spoke without haste or
embarrassment,his eye boring into space, and he more than fulfilled Mr.
I should like to knowwhat the devil you mean? Seven
hundred and fifty-one thousand dollars, murmured Owen Hood. Dont youknow who was the
rival with the long nose?
How can people tolerateall that vulgar, reeking,
gushing commercial cant everywhere?
The police had not come providedfor elephants,
which are rare in those parts.
We had better bring out the throne of the King of
the Maniacs,said Hood, laughing.
I suppose being scalped is all the rage in the best
Red Indian society? I hope you wont misunderstandme if I say that she is a rather
formidable lady. Hes the very man you want, cried Hilary Pierce
enthusiastically.
Besides, theres a difference, said Pierce. Well,
said the Colonel good-humouredly, weve done some ratherridiculous things ourselves.
Being an American, hes entirely in earnest. Bang all the gongs and the tom-toms,
cried Wilding White.
The last word came smartly, and he gave a smart
smack to the hugehead of the pachyderm.
When Iput a cabbage on my head, I didnt expect
people not to stare at it.