Hesaidhewasafterthestove-polishman;andwiththishebrokeoutcursingandswearinganew.Thebulletin-boarderreferredtowasSirOssaiseofSurluse,abraveknight,andofconsiderablecelebrityonaccountofhishavingtriedconclusionsinatournamentonce,withnolessaMogulthatSirGaherishimself——althoughnotsuccessfully.Hewasofalightandlaughingdisposition,andtohimnothinginthisworldwasserious.ItwasforthisreasonthatIhadchosenhimtoworkupastove-polishsentiment.
Therewerenostovesyet,andsotherecouldbenothingseriousaboutstove-polish.
Allthattheagentneededtodowastodeftlyandbydegreespreparethepublicforthegreatchange,andhavethemestablishedinpredilectionstowardneatnessagainstthetimewhenthestoveshouldappearuponthestage.
SirMadokwasverybitter,andbrakeoutanewwithcursings.Hesaidhehadcursedhissoultorags;andyethewouldnotgetdownfromhishorse,neitherwouldhetakeanyrest,orlistentoanycomfort,untilheshouldhavefoundSirOssaiseandsettledthisaccount.Itappeared,bywhatIcouldpiecetogetheroftheunprofanefragmentsofhisstatement,thathehadchanceduponSirOssaiseatdawnofthemorning,andbeentoldthatifhewouldmakeashortcutacrossthefieldsandswampsandbrokenhillsandglades,hecouldheadoffacompanyoftravelerswhowouldberarecustomersforprophylacticsandtooth-wash.WithcharacteristiczealSirMadokhadplungedawayatonceuponthisquest,andafterthreehoursofawfulcrosslotridinghadoverhauledhisgame.Andbehold,itwasthefivepatriarchsthathadbeenreleasedfromthedungeonstheeveningbefore!
Pooroldcreatures,itwasalloftwentyyearssinceanyoneofthemhadknownwhatitwastobeequippedwithanyremainingsnagorremnantofatooth.