I know no more.' 'Strong, sir ?' said Mr Meagles to the Frenchman; it being another of his habits to address individuals of all nations in idiomatic English, with a perfect conviction that they were bound to understand it somehow.

'Rather forcible in our fair friend, you'll agree with me, I think ?' The French gentleman courteously replied, 'Plait-il ?' To which Mr Meagles returned with much satisfaction, 'You are right.

My opinion.' The breakfast beginning by-and-by to languish, Mr Meagles made the company a speech.

It was short enough and sensible enough, considering that it was a speech at all, and hearty.

It merely went to the effect that as they had all been thrown together by chance, and had all preserved a good understanding together, and were now about to disperse, and were not likely ever to find themselves all together again, what could they do better than bid farewell to one another, and give one another good-speed in a simultaneous glass of cool champagne all round the table?
It was done, and with a general shaking of hands the assembly broke up for ever.
The solitary young lady all this time had said no more.