apparently without even breathing. He began on the weather, drifted on
to art and music, and was just beginning a monologue on The Novel,
when William rose and crept from the room like a guilty spirit. He
found Mr. Blank under the library table, having heard a noise in the
kitchen and fearing a visitor. A cigar and a silver snuffer had
fallen from his pocket to the floor. He hastily replaced them. William
went up and took another look at the wonderful ears and heaved a sigh
of relief. While parted from his strange friend he had had a horrible
suspicion that the whole thing was a dream.

"I'll go to the larder and get you sumthin'," he said. "You jus' stay
here."

"I think, young gent," said Mr. Blank, "I think I'll just go an' look
round upstairs on the quiet like, an' you needn't mention it to no
one. See?"

Again he performed the fascinating wink.

They crept on tiptoe into the hall, but--the drawing-room door was
ajar.

"William!"

William's heart stood still. He could hear his mother coming across
the room, then--she stood in the doorway. Her face filled with horror
as her eye fell upon Mr. Blank.

"_William!_" she said.