"A charming fellow," said Portia, as the pirate disappeared.

"Most attractive," said Elizabeth.

"Handsome, too, don't you think?" asked Helen of Troy.

"And truthful beyond peradventure," observed Xanthippe, as she reflected
upon the words the captain had attributed to Socrates. "I didn't believe
him at first, but when he told me what my sweet-tempered philosopher had
said, I was convinced."

"He's a sweet child," interposed Mrs. Noah, fondly. "One of my favorite
grandchildren."

"Which makes it embarrassing for me to say," cried Cassandra, starting up
angrily, "that he is a base caitiff!"

Had a bomb been dropped in the middle of the room, it could not have
created a greater sensation than the words of Cassandra.

"What?" cried several voices at once. "A caitiff?"

"A caitiff with a capital K," retorted Cassandra. "I know that, because
while he was telling his story I was listening to it with one ear and
looking forward into the middle of next week with the other--I mean the
other eye--and I saw--"

"Yes, you saw?" cried Cleopatra.

"I saw that he was deceiving us. Mark my words, ladies, he is a base