stupefaction.

"And put that hat and dress into the dust-bin."

"_Bien, M'sieu._"

"And as Mademoiselle is broken with fatigue, having come without
stopping from Asia Minor, she will go to bed as soon as
possible."

"The poor angel," said Antoinette. "But will she not join
Monsieur at dinner?"

"I think not," said I, dryly.

"But the young ducklings that are roasting for the dinner of
Monsieur?"

"If they were not roasting they might be growing up into ducks,"
said I.

"Oh, la, la!" murmured Antoinette, below her breath.

"Carlotta," said I, turning to the girl who had seated herself
humbly on a straight-backed chair, "you will go with Antoinette
and do as she tells you. She doesn't talk English, but she is
used to making people understand her."

"_Mais, moi parley Francais un peu_," said Carlotta.