"Blime, yiv got the noble Ammonia goin' this trip, Nickie," said the
Living Skeleton.

"Yes," replied Nickie, still with his eye to the crack, "that beast will
have to learn decency and good conduct, Matty, my man. I aspire to teach
him moral restraint."

"He'll do you a bad turn one o' them days, mark me."

"I believe not," said the Missing Link. "I've got something here that
will always reduce him to reason." Nickie touched his breast. "I say,
Matthew, this Chow next door is a luxurious heathen. He's got all sorts
of lovely preserved fruits in beautiful juices, and cakes, and ginger
floating in its own gravy, and there is a bottle of Chinese brand under
the counter. Now, Matthew, I think it is a sin to encourage the inferior
races to indulge in intoxicants."

"Don't," cried the Living Skeleton, a ring of anguish in his tones. "Yeh
know, it's agin the rules t' talk t' me of things t' eat. It makes me
fat." Poor Matty Cann groaned aloud. "Is there anythin' substantial?" he
asked pitifully.

"Not just now," said Nickie, "but last night I watched the Chow and his
missus dining on roast duck. You notice there's a door in this partition
just at the back of my cage. Curious, is it not? Well, I found an old
rusty key in the crack under the wall, and it fits the lock of that door.
Remarkable that, don't you think? Now, I shan't be surprised if some of
those Chow delicacies find their way in here most unaccountably."

"What's it t' me if they do?" sighed Matty. "I wouldn't dare t' eat 'em.