'What have you to say ?' asked the little black-haired one in the corner--she with the great eyes and the face pale as a chalk-cliff.

I said, 'I am instructed, mesdames, to deliver this simple message: Sir Max is quite well.' 'That will do.

Thank you.' said the big eyes and the pale face.

Then she gave me two gold florins.

The money almost took my breath, and when I looked up to thank her, blest if the white face wasn't rosy as a June dawn.
When I left, she was dancing about the room singing and laughing, and kissing everybody but me--worse luck! By Saint Patrick, I never saw so simple a message create so great a commotion.