第17部分(第6/7 頁)

right　out。　Nothing　to　it！〃

Old　Toot　knew　better　than　to　carry　his　protest　any　further；　he'd　been　on　the　yard　long　enough　to　understand　when　he　could　afford　to　face　into　the　breeze　and　when　he'd　do　better　to　bend　in　the　hurricane。　This　wasn't　exactly　a　hurricane；　but　we　bluesuits　liked　the　mouse；　and　we　liked　the　idea　of　Delacroix　having　the　mouse；　and　that　meant　it　was　at　least　a　gale。　So　Delacroix　got　his　box；　and　Percy　was　as　good　as　his　word　…　two　days　later　the　bottom　was　lined　with　soft　pads　of　cotton　batting　from　the　dispensary。　Percy　handed　them　over　himself；　and　I　could　see　the　fear　in　Delacroix's　eyes　as　he　reached　out　through　the　bars　to　take　them。　He　was　afraid　Percy　would　grab　his　hand　and　break　his　fingers。　I　was　a　little　afraid　of　it　too；　but　no　such　thing　happened。　That　was　the　closest　I　ever　came　to　liking　Percy；　but　even　then　it　was　hard　to　mistake　the　look　of　cool　amusement　in　his　eyes。　Delacroix　had　a　pet；　Percy　had　one　too。　Delacroix　would　keep　his；　petting　it　and　loving　it　as　long　as　he　could；　Percy　would　wait　patiently　（as　patiently　as　a　man　like　him　could　anyway）；　and　then　burn　his　alive。

〃Mousie　Hilton；　open　for　business。〃　Harry　said。　〃The　only　question　is；　will　the　little　bugger　use　it？〃

That　question　was　answered　as　soon　as　Delacroix　caught　Mr。　Jingles　up　in　one　hand　and　lowered　him　gently　into　the　box。　The　mouse　snuggled　into　the　white　cotton　as　if　it　were　Aunt　Bea's　forter；　and　that　was　his　home　from　then　until　。。。　well；　I'll　get　to　the　end　of　Mr。　Jingles's　story　in　good　time。

Old　Toot…Toots　worries　that　the　cigar　box　would；　fill　up　with　mouse…shit　proved　to　be　entirely　groundless。　I　never　saw　a　single　turd　in　there；　and　Delacroix　said　he　never　did；　either；　anywhere　in　his　cell；　for　that　matter。　Much　later；　around