ss's props offstage at the end of the act。 Mr。 Jingles was perched on Delacroix's shoulder。 And Delacroix himself？ I …tell you what … Lillie Langtry couldn't have looked any glowier after performing at the White House。 〃They love Mr。 Jingles！〃
Delacroix proclaimed。 〃They laugh and cheer and clap they hands！〃
〃Well； that's aces；〃 Percy said。 He spoke in an indulgent； proprietary way that didn't sound like the old Percy at all。 〃Pop on back in your cell； old…timer。〃
Delacroix gave him a ical look of distrust； and the old Percy came busting out。 He bared his teeth in a mock snarl and made as if to grab Delacroix。 It was a joke； of course； Percy was happy； not in a serious grabbing mood at all； but Delacroix didn't know that。 He jerked away with an expression of fear and dismay； and tripped over one of Brutal's big feet。 He went down hard； hitting the linoleum with the back of his head。 Mr。 Jingles leaped away in time to avoid being crushed； and went squeaking off down the Green Mile to Delacroix's cell。
Delacroix got to his feet； gave the chuckling Percy a single hate…filled glance； then scurried off after his pet； calling for him and rubbing the back of his head。 Brutal （who didn't know that Percy had shown exciting signs of petency for a change） gave Percy a wordless look of contempt and went after Del； shaking his keys out。
I think what happened next happened because Percy was actually moved to apologize … I know it's hard to believe； but he was in an extraordinary humor that day。 If true； it only proves a cynical old adage I heard once； something about how no good deed goes unpunished。 Remember me telling you about how； after he'd chased the mouse down to the restraint room on one of those two occasions before Delacroix joined us； Per