"But it _woulder_ tickled you," he resumed, using one of the vestas I extended and puffing the cigar until it almost flamed, "if you coulder seen the grand-stand play this guy put up before the sergeant! But the old man just let him blow it all off; just sat there calm behind the desk, chewing away and jabbing a pen through the blotter, while this stiff fumed and spouted--oh, something scandalous--bringing in the names of mighty near all the important people in New York; his _friends_, he said! Oh, yes, he mentioned _you_ in particular, sir!"--and his face expanded in a relishing grin. "Dashed impudence!" I murmured feebly. "_Oh_, yes," carelessly, "but the sarge quieted him--just purty near soothed him to sleep before he got _through_, you know--it's one of his ways!"--his glance lifted solemnly. "Fine, you know!" I murmured admiringly. I reflected approvingly upon what a dashed good thing it was to have a man in that position--whatever it was--who was of such a devilish mild and gentle temperament: the quiet word--the soft answer--the kindly remonstrance--all that sort of thing, you know. "We're a leetle crowded now," the big cop pursued, reflectively gouging into the mortar with the long blade of his knife, "and we had to put him in the cell with a gorilla what's always wandering back to the jungle for too much strong-arm work--maybe you read about him? He scragged a whole family th' other night and threw 'em down the fire-escape." "Oh!" I said uneasily. "But isn't he--er--rather dangerous?" "_Naw!_" A careless but vigorous head shake. "_Only_ in his sleep, you know--it's his dreams leads him off--_or_ unless some one touches or crowds him; then he gets peevish and--oh, well he _might_, of course--" Mr. O'Keefe's expressive shrug finished out the idea. But I wouldn't have heard it anyhow, I was in such a yawn. By Jove, I was sure the housekeeper would have chucked it by now, or else worked herself up into a swoon! Why, _my_ jolly foot was asleep! It was safe to let him go. I looked at my watch and coughed, and Jenkins came to and backed up to the door, sidling for me to pass within. The policeman straightened his helmet and murmured words of adieu. "But, if no offense, there's just one question I'd like to ask you, sir." He swung his club with a smiling, genial air. "Oh, dash it, no!" I responded absently. My eye had been suddenly attracted by a feathery gleam of white through the trees. It was slowly moving up the slope to a pavilion overlooking the Tappan Zee. He drew nearer with a confidential air. "Just a little argument I had with the old woman, you know, about them pajamas. Would you mind telling me--_as_ man to man, y'understand--if them garments is"--his voice dropped--"is like her real shape--figger, I mean--h'm?" And he tapped the parcel lightly with his stick.