"That is a good idea of yours," I say; "a precaution which should
always be taken in this country of yours, where so many evil-minded
people are clever in forging money. Make haste and get through it
before I start, and if any false pieces have found their way into the
number, I will willingly replace them."

However, she refuses to continue before me, and I expected as much; to
do so would have been contrary to all her notions of politeness,
hereditary and acquired, all her conventionality, all her
_Japanesery_. With a disdainful little foot, clothed as usual in
exquisite socks with a special hood for the great toe, she pushes away
the piles of white dollars and scatters them on the mats.

"We have hired a large covered sampan," she says to change the
conversation, "and we are all going together,--Campanule, Jonquille,
Touki, all your mousmés--to watch your vessel set sail. Pray sit down
and stay a few minutes."

"No, I really cannot stay. I have several things to do in the town,
d'you see, and the order was given for every one to be on board by
three o'clock in time for muster before starting. Moreover, I would
rather escape, as you can imagine, while Madame Prune is still
enjoying her siesta; I should be afraid of being drawn into some
corner, or of provoking some heartrending parting scene."

Chrysanthème bows her head and says no more, but seeing that I am
really going, rises to escort me.

Without speaking, without the slightest noise, she follows me as we
descend the staircase and cross the garden full of sunshine, where the