'Twas More Than A Figure of Speech

'Twas not thought that the accidentally injured Madeleine had aggravated Rodney or that Rodney was violent; 'twas rather that appearances would create rumors among those who had invested in Rodney's future purses. The donkey would have to leave the new champion's stall immediately. Reluctantly, Madeleine's owner, Marvin Greenblat, took his ass home in a sling.