k sitting-room. In the midst of its
shabby gloom and under the dim light Loristan was standing in one of
his still, attentive attitudes. He was waiting for them.

"Father, this is The Rat," the boy began. The Rat stopped short and
rested on his crutches, staring at the tall, reposeful figure with
widened eyes.

"Is that your father?" he said to Marco. And then added, with a jerky
half-laugh, "He's not much like mine, is he?"

X

THE RAT--AND SAMAVIA

What The Rat thought when Loristan began to speak to him, Marco
wondered. Suddenly he stood in an unknown world, and it was Loristan
who made it so because its poverty and shabbiness had no power to touch
him. He looked at the boy with calm and clear eyes, he asked him
practical questions gently, and it was plain that he understood many
things without asking questions at all. Marco thought that perhaps he
had, at some time, seen drunken men die, in his life in strange places.
He seemed to know the terribleness of the night through which The Rat
had passed. He made him sit down, and he ordered Lazarus to bring him
some hot coffee and simple food.

"Haven't had a bite since yesterday," The Rat said, still staring at
him. "How did you know I hadn't?"

"You have not had time," Loristan answered.

Afterward he made him lie down on the sofa.

"Look at my clothes," said The Rat.

"Lie down and sleep," Loristan replied, putting his hand on his
shoulder and gently forcing him toward the sofa. "You will sleep a
long time. You must tell me how to find the place where your father
died, and I will see that the proper authorities are notified."

"What are you doing it for?" The Rat asked, and then he added, "sir."

"Because I am a man and you are a boy. And this is a terrible thing,"
Loristan answered him.

He went away without saying more, and The Rat lay on the sofa staring
at the wall and thinking about it until he fell asleep. But, before
this happened, Marco had quietly left him alone. So, as Loristan had
told him he would, he slept deeply and long; in fact, he slept through
all the night.

When he awakened it was morning, and Lazarus was standing by the side
of the sofa looking down at him.

"You will want to make yourself clean," he said. "It must be done."

"Clean!" said The Rat, with his squeaky laugh. "I couldn't keep clean
when I had a room to live in, and now where am I to wash myself?" He
sat up and looked about him.

"Give me my