Mr. Brunger was disappointed; a little at sea, he would have clutched
eagerly at any aid. However, "impress your client." He continued:
"These are our data. We have a valuable cat--a cat, sir, upon which
the eyes of cat-breeders are enviously fixed. Take America--you have
had surprising offers from America for this cat, sir, so you told me?"
"Eight hundred pounds," Mr. Marrapit groaned.
"Precisely. Observe how our data accumulate. We have dissatisfaction
among breeders at home because you will not employ this cat as, in
their opinion, for the good of the breed, she should be employed."
Mr. Marrapit moaned: "Polygamy is abhorrent to me."
"Precisely. Our data positively pile about us. We have a thousand
enthusiasts yearning for this cat. We have your refusal to sell or to--
to--" Mr. Brunger allowed a hiatus delicately to express his meaning.
"Then depend upon it, sir, we have a determination to secure this cat
by foul means since fair will not avail. We have a conspiracy among
unscrupulous breeders to obtain this valuable cat, and hence, sir, we
have a gang--a _gang_."
Mr. Marrapit put his anguish of mind into two very deep groans.
"Keep calm, my dear sir," Mr. Brunger soothed. "We shall return your
cat. We have our data." He continued: "Now, sir, there are two ways of
dealing with a _gang_.
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