"I want the key of the watch, puddin'-head, not this thing!"
"Arrah, it's got no kay, I tell ye. What ud _it_ want a kay for?"
Duck laughed again at this.
"Paddy," said he, "next time you borrow a gentleman's watch be sure you
ask 'im for the key, do you hear? You want the key to wind the thing
up--that's why he don't go."
Paddy, who had sense enough to see that Mr Downie knew more about a
watch than he did, held his peace, and took no trouble to refute the
imputation on the way in which he had come by me.
Duck Downie having, with some difficulty, borrowed a watch-key, wound me
up, greatly to my delight and that of my master. It was delicious to
feel the blood tingling through my veins once more, and to have my heart
beat again with renewed animation. My master's glee was only equalled
by his astonishment. He looked at first as if he suspected Duck Downie
of being in league with supernatural powers; but when that eminent
mechanic took the trouble to explain to him the value of the operation
he had just performed on me, Paddy without a word rushed out, at the
risk of all sorts of penalties, into the town, and knew no peace till he
had possessed himself of a "kay," which henceforth became the
inseparable companion of me and the watered ribbon.