"That's nothing new," he rejoined with a smile.

"Come now, none of your blarney! You know the queer little monster you
brought me some time ago. You see him there grinning at us out of the
cabinet? Well, a friend of mine noticed him yesterday--she is a bit of
a connoisseur, and she said that, if genuine, that diabolical object
had considerable value! To-morrow, I will take it round to a shop in
'the Grove,' and get an opinion; let us hear what the expert says, and
if the object is good and marketable, I'll sell him--and you shall have
the money. Now," raising a hand authoritatively, "I warn you not to
say 'No' to me again, for if you do, I'll just take the poker and smash
the deformity into a thousand atoms!"

"Oh, well, I suppose that puts the lid on," said Douglas, "but I ask
you, if anything in the whole world can be meaner than to give a
present and to take it back? However, I'll consent to commit that
outrage to save the monster. I don't believe he is worth a sovereign!"

"Stop! I hear them moving in the drawing-room, so, my dear boy, fly up
to your roost at once. You know how it vexes your mother to see you
spending your time with me. Good night, my dear child," and rising,
she laid her hands on his shoulders and kissed him on the cheek.

The very next evening, shortly before dinner, Mrs. Malone sent for her
favourite boarder.

"I've grand news for you!" she announced. "I've had the ugly figure
valued and a man has offered me a hundred and ten pounds."

"A hundred and ten pounds!" repeated Shafto. "Come, this is one of