"Ay; an' from that day to this never a question atween us we couldn' settle by the toss of a coin." He continued to stare down gloomily. "Tossin' won't help us, not in this case," he added. "It wouldn't be respectful." "It wouldn't be fair, neither. . . . You may talk as you please, Cai, but the widow favours me." "I asked ye for proofs just now, if you remember." "So you did. And if you remember I asked you for the same, not two minutes afore. We can't give 'em, neither of us: and, if we could, why--as you said a moment since--'twouldn't be respectful. Let's play fair then, damn it!" "Certainly," agreed Cai, striking a match and holding it to his pipe. (But his hand shook.) "That's if you'll suggest how." 'Bias mused for a space. "Very well," said he at length; "then I'll suggest that we both sit down and write her a letter; post the letters together, and let the best man win." "Couldn't be fairer," agreed Cai, after a moment's reflection. "When I said the best man," 'Bias corrected himself, "I meant no more than to say the man she fancies. No reflection intended on you." "Nor on yourself, maybe?" hinted Cai, with a last faint touch of exasperation. It faded, and--on an impulse of generosity following on a bright inspiration which had on the instant occurred to him-- he suggested, "If you like, we'll show one another the letters before we post 'em?" "That's as you choose," answered 'Bias. "Or afterwards, if you like-- I shall keep a rough copy." Now this was said with suspicious alacrity: for Cai was admittedly the better scholar and, as a rule, revised 'Bias's infrequent business letters and corrected their faults of spelling. But--dazzled as he was by his own sudden and brilliant idea--no suspicion occurred to him. "It's a bargain, then?" "It's a bargain." They did not shake hands upon it. Their friendship had always been sincere enough to dispense with all formalities of friendship; they would not have shaken hands on meeting (say) after a twenty years' separation. They looked one another in the eyes, just for an instant, and they both nodded. "Cribbage to-night?" asked 'Bias. "If 'tisn't too late," answered Cai. He pulled out his watch, whilst 'Bias turned about to the mantel-shelf and the clock his bulk had been hiding. "Nine-thirty," announced Cai. "Almost to a tick," agreed 'Bias. "'Stonishing what good time we've kept ever since we set this clock." "'Stonishing," Cai assented. They played two games of cribbage and retired to bed. As he undressed Cai remembered his omission to warn 'Bias explicitly of what--according to Mrs Bowldler--the parrot was capable. The warning had been once or twice on the tip of his tongue during the early part of the conversation: but always (as he remembered) he had been interrupted. "I'll warn him after breakfast to-morrow," said Cai to himself magnanimously, as he arose from his prayers. "Poor old 'Bias--what a good fellow it is, after all!"