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 "'Ere! Wot's all this about?" said the policeman.

Señor Perez was chiefly pantomimic, for he was almost past the point of articulate speech.

The policeman listened to his husky Montevidean execrations attentively. Then he turned to Mr. James and said, "Look 'ere; wot's it all about?"

"You'd better ask another policeman," said Mr. James calmly. "I was walking across the Square, and I saw this gentleman in the fountain taking a bath. I think he's a foreigner."

"’E's a forriner all right," said the policeman with decision. "But there was another of 'em. I sor 'im."

"Yes; there was a curly-headed man in the fountain, too—another foreigner to judge from his curly hair," said the deceitful Mr. James carelessly. "Besides, Englishmen bathe in the morning—at home."

The policeman surveyed the gasping Montevidean with a gloomy frown; then he said, "’Ere; you come along er me an' give a hexplanation of yourself."

Señor Perez said something in Montevidean.