His smile became a chuckle, but there were no symptoms of amusement visible upon the faces framed in the window of the Eyrie. The thin lips merely pressed tighter and the plump ones opened wider, that was all. "Why don't you answer my question?" demanded the thin woman. "What are you doing on these premises?" "Why, nothin' in particular, ma'am. I was just tryin' to take a little walk and not makin' a very good job at it." There was an interruption here. The full moon broke in to ask a question of its own. "Who is he? What's he talkin' about?" it demanded. "I don't know who he is--yet." "Well, what's he talkin' about? Make him speak louder." "I will, if you give me a chance. He says he is taking a walk. What are you taking a walk in here for? Don't you know it isn't allowed?" "Why, no, ma'am, I didn't. In fact I didn't realize I was in here until I--well--until I got here." "What is he sayin'?" demanded the moon-face again, and somewhat testily. "I can't hear a word." Now the captain's tone had been at least ordinarily loud, so it was evident that the plump woman's hearing was defective. Her curiosity, however, was not in the least impaired. "What's that man talkin' about now?" she persisted. Her companion became impatient. "Oh, I don't know," she snapped. "Do give me a chance, won't you? I think he's been drinking. He says he doesn't know where he is or how he got here." Kendrick thought it high time to protest. Also to raise his voice when doing so. "That wasn't exactly it," he shouted. "I was takin' a little walk, that's all. I have to navigate pretty slow for my legs aren't just right." "What did he say wa'n't right?" demanded the plump female. "His legs." "Eh! Legs! What's he talkin' about his legs for?" "Oh, I don't know! Do be still a minute. It's his head that isn't right, I guess he means.... Don't you know you're trespassing? What do you mean by coming in here?" "Well, ma'am, I didn't mean anything in particular. I just happened in by accident. I'm sorry." "Humph! You didn't come in here to run off with anything that didn't belong to you, I hope." The captain looked at her for a moment. Then his lip twitched. "No, ma'am," he said, solemnly, "I didn't come with that idea--but--" "But? What do you mean by 'but'?" "But I didn't realize what there was in here to run off with. If I had.... There, I guess I'd better go. Good day, ladies. Sorry I troubled you." He lifted his cap, turned, and limped out of sight around the clump of lilacs. From behind him came a series of indignant gasps and exclamations. "Why--why--Well, I never in all my born days! The saucy, impudent--" And the voice of the moon-faced one raised in bewildered entreaty: "What was it? What did he say? Elviry Snowden, why don't you tell me what 'twas he _said_?"