I do not doubt but they will find some
means of averting any catastrophe more serious--No, Professor Hanky, the
doors are locked--than a little perjury in which we shall all share and
share alike."
"Do what you like," said Hanky, looking for all the world like a rat
caught in a trap. As he spoke he seized a knife from the table, whereon
George pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and slipped them on to
his wrists before he well knew what was being done to him.
"George," said the Mayor, "this is going too far. Do you mean to Blue-
Pool the Professors or no?"
"Not if they will compromise. If they will be reasonable, they will not
be Blue-Pooled; if they think they can have everything their own way, the
eels will be at them before morning."
A voice was heard from the head of Panky which he had buried in his arms
upon the table. "Co-co-co-compromise," it said; and the effect was so
comic that every one except Hanky smiled. Meanwhile Yram had conducted
Dr. Downie and Mrs. Humdrum into an adjoining room.
CHAPTER XX: MRS. HUMDRUM AND DR. DOWNIE PROPOSE A COMPROMISE, WHICH,
AFTER AN AMENDMENT BY GEORGE, IS CARRIED NEM. CON.
They returned in about ten minutes, and Dr. Downie asked Mrs. Humdrum to
say what they had agreed to recommend.
"We think," said she very demurely, "that the strict course would be to
drop the charge of poaching, and Blue-Pool both the Professors and the
prisoner without delay.
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