superintendent of police to "speak up." He tried to put in a good word

for Parsons by saying he was "naturally of a choleraic disposition,"

but the start and the slow grin of enjoyment upon the face of the

grave and Reverend Signor with the palatial Boko suggested that the

word was not so good as he had thought it. The rest of the bench was

frankly puzzled and there were hasty consultations.

You mean 'E 'As a 'Ot temper," said the presiding magistrate.

I mean 'E 'As a 'Ot temper," replied Polly, magically incapable of

aspirates for the moment.

You don't mean 'E ketches cholera."

I mean--he's easily put out."

Then why can't you say so?" said the presiding magistrate.

Parsons was bound over.

He came for his luggage while every one was in the shop, and Garvace

would not let him invade the business to say good-by. When Mr. Polly

went upstairs for margarine and bread and tea, he slipped on into the

dormitory at once to see what was happening further in the Parsons

case. But Parsons had vanished. There was no Parsons, no trace of

Parsons. His cubicle was swept and garnished. For the first time in

The History of Mr Polly