第28部分(第6/7 頁)

ss's　props　offstage　at　the　end　of　the　act。　Mr。　Jingles　was　perched　on　Delacroix's　shoulder。　And　Delacroix　himself？　I　…tell　you　what　…　Lillie　Langtry　couldn't　have　looked　any　glowier　after　performing　at　the　White　House。　〃They　love　Mr。　Jingles！〃

Delacroix　proclaimed。　〃They　laugh　and　cheer　and　clap　they　hands！〃

〃Well；　that's　aces；〃　Percy　said。　He　spoke　in　an　indulgent；　proprietary　way　that　didn't　sound　like　the　old　Percy　at　all。　〃Pop　on　back　in　your　cell；　old…timer。〃

Delacroix　gave　him　a　ical　look　of　distrust；　and　the　old　Percy　came　busting　out。　He　bared　his　teeth　in　a　mock　snarl　and　made　as　if　to　grab　Delacroix。　It　was　a　joke；　of　course；　Percy　was　happy；　not　in　a　serious　grabbing　mood　at　all；　but　Delacroix　didn't　know　that。　He　jerked　away　with　an　expression　of　fear　and　dismay；　and　tripped　over　one　of　Brutal's　big　feet。　He　went　down　hard；　hitting　the　linoleum　with　the　back　of　his　head。　Mr。　Jingles　leaped　away　in　time　to　avoid　being　crushed；　and　went　squeaking　off　down　the　Green　Mile　to　Delacroix's　cell。

Delacroix　got　to　his　feet；　gave　the　chuckling　Percy　a　single　hate…filled　glance；　then　scurried　off　after　his　pet；　calling　for　him　and　rubbing　the　back　of　his　head。　Brutal　（who　didn't　know　that　Percy　had　shown　exciting　signs　of　petency　for　a　change）　gave　Percy　a　wordless　look　of　contempt　and　went　after　Del；　shaking　his　keys　out。

I　think　what　happened　next　happened　because　Percy　was　actually　moved　to　apologize　…　I　know　it's　hard　to　believe；　but　he　was　in　an　extraordinary　humor　that　day。　If　true；　it　only　proves　a　cynical　old　adage　I　heard　once；　something　about　how　no　good　deed　goes　unpunished。　Remember　me　telling　you　about　how；　after　he'd　chased　the　mouse　down　to　the　restraint　room　on　one　of　those　two　occasions　before　Delacroix　joined　us；　Per