'Unfortunately, no, Madame,' said Vandeloup, coolly; 'but we are
willing to learn.'

Archie grunted in a dissatisfied manner, for he was by no means in
favour of teaching people their business, and, besides, he thought
Vandeloup too much of a gentleman to do good work.

'You look hardly strong enough for such hard labour,' said Mrs
Villiers, doubtfully eyeing the slender figure of the young man.
'Your companion, I think, will do, but you--'

'I, Madame, am like the lilies of the field that neither toil nor
spin,' replied Vandeloup, gaily; 'but, unfortunately, I am now
compelled by necessity to work, and though I should prefer to earn
my bread in an easier manner, beggars,'--with a characteristic
shrug, which did not escape Madame's eye--cannot be choosers.'

'You are French?' she asked quickly, in that language.

'Yes, Madame,' he replied in the same tongue, 'both my friend and
myself are from Paris, but we have not been long out here.'

'Humph,' Madame leaned her head on her hand and thought, while
Vandeloup looked at her keenly, and remembered what Slivers had
said.

'She is, indeed, a handsome woman,' he observed, mentally; 'my lines
will fall in pleasant places, if I remain here.'