Part 6 (1/2)
”What is it?” he inquired, glaring at me fiercely.
”I've called to know if you could a.s.sist me in finding a friend who, I fear, has lost his way,” I replied.
The official did not answer me, but reached down another large book.
”What's his name?” he inquired gruffly.
”His name? Oh--er--his name is--er--that is to say he is the--” I had not the least idea what the Wallypug's name really was, so I couldn't very well say.
”What's his name?” shouted the official. ”I'll ask you what he _is_ presently.”
”Well, I'm very sorry, but I really do not know his name.”
The man glanced at me very suspiciously.
”You said he was a friend of yours--it's a very odd thing that you don't know his name. What is he?”
”He's a--a--Wallypug,” I stammered. ”That is to say he--er--”
”Wallypug!” exclaimed the man contemptuously. ”What's that?”
”Why, it's a kind of king, you know,” I explained, feeling that the explanation was rather a lame one.
”A _kind_ of king!” exclaimed the police officer. ”Explain yourself.”
”Well, I'm afraid I can't explain more clearly than that,” I replied.
”This gentleman has been staying with me for a couple of days, and went out this morning and lost his way.”
”Where did he come from?” asked the man.
”Why,” I answered.
”Why? Because I want to know,” he shouted. ”Don't let me have any further prevarication. Where did the man, or Wallypug, or whatever you call him, come from?”
”From Why. From a place called Why, you know,” I repeated.
”I _don't_ know,” said the officer. ”I've never heard of such a place.
Where is it?”
”Well, really,” I said, ”I'm very sorry, but I cannot tell you. I don't know myself.”
”This is _very_ remarkable,” said the man, glaring at me through his gla.s.ses. ”You don't know your friend's name; you call him a Wallypug, and can't explain what that is, you don't know where he comes from--perhaps you can tell me how he reached your house?”
I was now really in a fix, for how could I tell this man that his Majesty had stepped out of a picture.
I thought the best thing to do was to hold my tongue.
”How did he come?” repeated the officer. ”By train?”
I shook my head.