It will be as well she does not recognize me without my cue." Running his large red hand over his whiskers, he jovially accosted the girl, after adjusting his formidable accoutrement field-glass, guide-book, case and heavy watch chain, adorned with a compass and a pedometer.

She stood on the porch before the windows of the room into which her mistress had entered so early in the morning.
"What do you seek, monsieur ?" she challenged, after an unfavorable glance upon the stranger who had greatly offended her idea of dignity by not ringing and waiting at the portals to be officially admitted.
"Pardon me, young lady," the man said, with the southern accent so strong that a flavor of garlic at once pervaded the air, "but I did not think that your papa and mamma and the family were in the house, seeing that it is for sale." "Young lady?
My papa?
Let me tell you that I am the housemaid here and if you have intended to jest--" "Jest! purchasing a house, and rather large gardens, is no jest, not in the environs of Paris!" returned the visitor.

"Is it you who are to show the property ?" "No.

If you will wait, I will tell master," said Hedwig, not at all flattered by being pretendedly taken for "the daughter of the house." She turned round, made the half-circuit of the house, and entered the breakfast-room where the three gentlemen were still in debate.
"A gentleman, to see the house, with a view to purchase, eh ?" said Clemenceau.

"Very well, I will go into the drawing-room and speak with him.