Finally he found one, and
said lazily:
"_De quelle endroit que vooz etes?_"
"_De Massachusetts_," said I.
He wheeled round and stared dumbly at the weak faced one, who looked at a
complete loss, but managed to stammer simperingly that it was a part of
the United States.
"UH." The hippopotamus said.
Then he remarked that I had been arrested, and I agreed that I had been
arrested.
Then he said "Have you got any money?" and before I could answer
clambered heavily to his feet and, leaning over the table before which I
stood, punched me gently.
"Uh," said the hippopotamus, sat down, and put on his glasses.
"I have your money here," he said. "You are allowed to draw a little from
time to time. You may draw 20 francs, if you like. You may draw it twice
a week."
"I should like to draw 20 francs now" I said, "in order to buy something
at the canteen."
"You will give me a receipt," said the hippopotamus. "You want to draw 20
francs now, quite so." He began, puffing and grunting, to make
handwriting of a peculiarly large and somewhat loose variety.
The weak face now stepped forward, and asked me gently: "Hugh er a merry
can?"--so I carried on a brilliant conversation in pidgeon English about
my relatives and America until interrupted by
"Uh.
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