HOW I CAUGHT A TARTAR. 61 



and purveyor. He had the utmost confidence in me ; 

 having accepted me through intuition, nothing what- 

 ever could make him distrust his judgment. 



His manners did not mend, though, I grieve to say 

 — not through any fault of his, but because he had no 

 doubt about it that they were the best manners in 

 the world. Like his speech, they had been acquired 

 probably by contact with some member or members 

 of my own family, and his perception was not fine 

 enough to note the distinctions between the different 

 strata composing human society. 



He was like a child in this respect, accepting 

 everybody and everything at its face value, without 

 question. I resolved to teach him, if possible, by my 

 example, as it was impossible to reach his intelligence 

 by precept ; but I must confess that Conscience had a 

 laugh at my expense. " What right had a would-be 

 murderer to set himself up as the moral instructor 

 of one who had only escaped his deadly aims by ac- 

 cident ? " 



That was a blunt question, but a sharp thrust, 

 nevertheless, and I had to confess that Conscience 

 had the best of it. Luckily, Psittacus could not see 

 what a struggle was going on in my mind, or else he, 

 sharp old rascal that he was, would have taken great 

 advantage of it. At it was, he escaped many a repri- 

 mand on account of my qualms, and though he doubt- 

 less attributed the tenderness and consideration with 

 which I treated him to his own personal attractions, 

 yet he got the benefit, just the same. 



I did want to thrash him soundly when he tore my 



