'Oh, there must be a ventriloquist somewhere in the crowd.

I'd like to know who he is.

Wouldn't you, Max ?' "Do you really think that's the explanation ?' I asked.

'Certainly,' he answered, in a tone as if he was rather disgusted at my stupidity.

'How else could you account for the seeming ability of that wretched animal to talk ?' "'I can't think of any other explanation,' I answered, 'but I hope that inhuman wretch of a driver doesn't know anything about ventriloquists, and so will be afraid to ill-use the poor creature any more.' 'I hope so, indeed,' he said.