person.

"And you go to see the bullfight to-morrow, yes?" he asked the
Doctor pleasantly.

"Certainly not," said John Dolittle firmly. "I don't like
bullfights--cruel, cowardly shows."

Don Enrique nearly exploded. I never saw a man get so excited.
He told the Doctor that he didn't know what he was talking about.
He said bullfighting was a noble sport and that the matadors were
the bravest men in the world.

"Oh, rubbish!" said the Doctor. "You never give the poor bull a
chance. It is only when he is all tired and dazed that your
precious matadors dare to try and kill him."

I thought the Spaniard was going to strike the Doctor he got so
angry. While he was still spluttering to find words, the
bed-maker came between them and took the Doctor aside. He
explained to John Dolittle in a whisper that this Don Enrique
Cardenas was a very important person; that he it was who supplied
the bulls--a special, strong black kind--from his own farm for
all the bullfights in the Capa Blancas. He was a very rich man,
the bed-maker said, a most important personage. He mustn't be
allowed to take offense on any account.

I watched the Doctor's face as the bed-maker finished, and I saw
a flash of boyish mischief come into his eyes as though an idea
had struck him. He turned to the angry Spaniard.