Binkie." He pitched him on the Nilghai's stomach, as
the big man lay at ease, and Binkie pretended to destroy the Nilghai inch by
inch, till a sofa cushion extinguished him, and panting he stuck out his tongue
at the company.
"The Binkie-boy went for a walk this morning before you were up, Torp. I saw
him making love to the butcher at the corner when the shutters were being taken
down--just as if he hadn't enough to eat in his own proper house," said Dick.
"Binks, is that a true bill?" said Torpenhow, severely. The little dog
retreated under the sofa cushion, and showed by the fat white back of him that
he really had no further interest in the discussion.
"Strikes me that another disreputable dog went for a walk, too," said the
Nilghai. "What made you get up so early? Torp said you might be buying a
horse."
"He knows it would need three of us for a serious business like that. No, I
felt lonesome and unhappy, so I went out to look at the sea, and watch the
pretty ships go by."
"Where did you go?"
"Somewhere on the Channel. Progly or Snigly, or some watering-place was its
name; I've forgotten; but it was only two hours" run from London and the ships
went by."
"Did you see anything you knew?"
"Only the Barralong outwards to Australia, and an Odessa grain-boat loaded down
by the head.
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