Page:The Intrusion of Jimmy.djvu/72

60. "He eats dem alive. An' jools from duchesses."

"I admit a partiality for jewels and duchesses," said Jimmy. "And, now, as it's a little late, perhaps we had better— Ready, Spike? Good-night, then. Pleased to have met you."

"I'll see you at my office."

"I may possibly look in. I shall be doing very little work in New York, I fancy. I am here merely on a vacation."

"If you do any work at all," said the policeman coldly, "you'll look in at my office, or you'll wish you had when it's too late."

"Of course, of course. I shouldn't dream of omitting any formality that may be usual. But I don't fancy I shall break my vacation. By the way, one little thing. Have you any objections to my carving a J on your front-door?"

The policeman stared.

"On the inside. It won't show. It's just a whim of mine. If you have no objection?"

"I don't want any of your—" began the policeman.

"You misunderstand me. It's only that it means paying for a dinner. I wouldn't for the world—"

The policeman pointed to the window.

"Out you get," he said, abruptly. "I've had enough of you. And don't you forget to come to my office."

Spike, still deeply mistrustful of the bull-dog