Monkey."

"Does Monkey ever nod?"

The little man looked at the stars.

"No sayin' but he might--if he was to took a drop o' soothin' syrup."

"What about the dog?"

"He could 'ave some soothin' syrup, too. 'Elp him with his teethin'."

The tout turned his back with a somewhat unnecessary regard for decency,
produced a bank-note and flourished it.

"What's that?" asked Monkey.

"Little bit o' crumpled paper."

"Let's see it."

"You may smell it. Only don't touch."

"Will it drop to pieces?"

Joses swept away the other's appropriating hand.

"Might burn your fingers," he said. "That's what I'm thinking of. That's
to buy you a bottle of Mother Siegel's soothing syrup. There's only one
thing," he went on, brandishing the note in the moon. "Looks a wistful
little thing, don't you think? That's because he's lonely. He's left
four little brothers and sisters same as himself at home. And he's
pining for 'em to join him. And join him they will to-morrow night--if
you'll let me in to his loose-box."

Jaggers at his best never looked more self-righteous than Monkey Brand
as he made reply:

"I couldn't let you into his loose-box, Mr. Joses," he said quietly.
"Wouldn't be right. Only the door'll be on the latch, and if you choose
to come in--why, who's to stop you?"

"Right," laughed the other. "I'm an artist, I am, as you may recall. I'd
like to paint you in your sleep. Study of Innocence I should call it."

He dropped away into the darkness.

A whistle stopped him.

The little jockey was limping after him.

"Say to-night," he said.

"No," said the fat man. "To-morrow night. Sunday night. That's the night
for good deeds."

* * * * *

At ten that night Jim Silver escorted Boy Woodburn across the yard to
the foot of the ladder.

For a moment the two stood at the foot of the ladder in talk. Then the
girl disappeared into the loft.

As Silver turned away he was whistling.

Monkey Brand, who was standing in the stable-door near by, lantern in
hand, preparatory to taking up his watch in the young horse's box,
coughed.

Silver turned and saw him.

"Good-night," he said.

"Yes, sir," said the little man, gazing up at the moon. "There _is_ some
good in him after all. _Some_ good in us all, I s'poses."

Jim Silver approached him. He knew the little man well enough by now to
know that he was always most round-about in his methods when he had
something of importance to c