Page:Henry rideout--The siamese cat.djvu/65

 gibes. At last Scarlett changed his mongrel speech to English:

"Well," he said, "you can buy the big chap for forty ticals. He's an unusually good one—probably stolen. But before you close the bargain, I must tell you that it's a risk: they often die going Home, they're quarantined in London, and probably not even admitted by our delightful authorities in New York."

Laura's face clouded, but Borkman came to the rescue.

"It's not so bad as that, sir," he declared cheerfully. "I'll see to him. Get him home for you with no trouble whatever—absolutely. If Mr. Scarlett is afraid, I'll buy him on my own responsibility, and you can get him from me whenever you like, Miss Holborow."

He had drawn himself up tall, a bearded protector of ladies.