6 LEAVES FROM THE 



mouth, and throw back his head, so as to secure the 

 juice, not a drop of which was lost. He was very fond 

 of sparkhng champagne, and, after such a treat, his 

 friskings and playful tricks were beyond description 

 funny. His game of romps with Binny was most 

 ludicrous. Often while Monsieur Mazurier was seated 

 on my instep, the bell was rung for Binny, who entered 

 as rapidly as his shuffling gait would permit him, imme- 

 diately came close to my leg, uttered his little cry, and 

 caressed the leg, after his fashion, by rubbing the side of 

 his head and his nose against it. Presently he would 

 perceive Macky, whom he would awake, and endeavour 

 to seduce him to play, by prancing and shuffling before 

 him. Macky, nothing loath, would make a spring on 

 Binny's tail, and bound off in an instant. Upon which 

 Binny would shuffle and prance, shake his head, and 

 play wonderful antics. People may talk of the gambols 

 of a rhinoceros, but the gambols of the rodent threw 

 those of the pachyderm into the shade, beating them 

 hollow in uncouthness and absurdity, Macky would 

 bound on Binny's back, dance a kind of saraband upon 

 him, and then leap before him, upon which Binny would 

 charge the dancer with the most determined heavy 

 alacrity. Macky was over his head and skipping on his 

 great flat scaly tail in a second. Then Binny would 

 shake his head, wheel round like a ponderous waggon, 

 and by the time he had brought his head where his tail 

 was, Macky had bounded from the tables and chairs on 

 and off him twenty times. Binny at last would slap his 

 tail again and again against the floor, till he made all 

 ring, whereupon Macky would dance round him and cut 

 the most extravagant capers, touching Binny's tail with 

 his finger, and jumping away as quick as thought. 



They had evidently a good understanding with each 

 other, and were on the best terms. One day they were 

 left at large in a room together, where there was a linen 



