第17部分(第2/7 頁)

　a　little；　but　that　was　all。　On　top　of　his　head；　Mr。　Jingles　wasn't　trembling。　He　sat　perfectly　still　with　his　back　feet　in　Delacroix's　hair　and　his　front　ones　splayed　on　Delacroix's　bald　looking　at　Percy；　seeming　to　size　him　up。　The　way　you'd　size　up　an　old　enemy。

Percy　looked　at　me。　〃Isn't　that　the　same　one　I　chased？　The　one　that　lives　in　the　restraint　room？〃

I　nodded。　I　had　an　idea　Percy　hadn't　seen　the　newly　named　Mr。　Jingles　since　that　last　chase；　and　he　showed　no　signs　of　wanting　to　chase　it　now。

〃Yes；　that's　the　one；〃　I　said。　〃Only　Delacroix　there　says　his　name　is　Mr。　Jingles；　not　Steamboat　Willy。　Says　the　mouse　whispered　it　in　his　ear。〃

〃Is　that　so；〃　Percy　said。　〃Wonders　never　cease；　do　they？〃　I　half…expected　him　to　pull　out　his　baton　and　start　tapping　it　against　the　bars；　just　to　show　Delacroix　who　was　boss；　but　he　only　stood　there　with　his　hands　on　his　hips；　looking　in。

And　for　no　reason　I　could　have　told　you　in　words；　I　said：　〃Delacroix　there　was　just　asking　for　a　box；　Percy。　He　thinks　that　mouse　will　sleep　in　it；　I　guess。　That　he　can　keep　it　for　a　pet。〃　I　loaded　my　voice　with　skepticism；　and　sensed　more　than　saw　Harry　looking　at　me　in　surprise。　〃What　do　you　think　about　that？〃

〃I　think　it'll　probably　shit　up　his　nose　some　night　while　he's　sleeping　and　then　run　away；〃　Percy　said　evenly；　〃but　I　guess　that's　the　French　boy's　lookout。　I　seen　a　pretty　nice　cigar　box　on　Toot…Toot's　cart　the　other　night。　I　don't　know　if　he'd　give　it　away；　though。　Probably　want　a　nickel　for　it；　maybe　even　a　dime。〃

Now　I　did　risk　a　glance　at　Harry；　and　saw　his　mouth　hanging　open。　This　wasn't　quite　like　the　change　in　Ebenezer　Scrooge　on　Christmas　morning；　after　the　ghosts　had　had　their　way　with　him；　but　it　was　damned　close。

Percy