ooms and a dining-room."

I put a stress on three, and that decided him.

He went on first, and I saw him go into a large hotel while I remained
on the other side of the street, with my fair Italian, who did not say a
word, and followed the porters with the luggage.

Paul came back at last, looking as dissatisfied as my companion.

"That is settled," he said, "and they will take us in; but here are only
two bedrooms. You must settle it as you can."

I followed him, rather ashamed of going in with such a strange
companion.

There were two bedrooms separated by a small sitting-room. I ordered a
cold supper, and then I turned to the Italian with a perplexed look.

"We have only been able to get two rooms, so you must choose which you
like."

She replied with her eternal "Che mi fa!" I thereupon took up her little
black wooden trunk, such as servants use, and took it into the room on
the right, which I had chosen for her. A bit of paper was fastened to
the box, on which was written, Mademoiselle Francesca Rondoli, Genoa.

"Your name is Francesca?" I asked, and she nodded her head, without
replying.

"We shall have supper directly," I continued. "Meanwhile, I dare say you
would like to arrange your toilette a little?"

She answered with a 'mica', a word which she employed just as frequently
as 'Che me fa', but I went on: "It is always pleasant after a journey."

Then I suddenly remembered that she had not, perhaps, the necessary
requisites, for she appeared to me in a very singular position, as if
she had just escaped from some disagreeable adventure, and I brought her
my dressing-case.

I put out all the little instruments for cleanliness and comfort which
it contained: a nail-brush, a new toothbrush--I always carry a selection
of them about with me--my nail-scissors, a nail-file, and sponges. I
uncorked a bottle of eau de cologne, one of lavender-water, and a little
bottle of new-mown hay, so that she might have a choice. Then I opened
my powder-box, and put out the powder-puff, placed my fine towels over
the water-jug, and a piece of new soap near the basin.

She watched my movements with a look of annoyance in her wide-open eyes,
without appearing either astonished or pleased at my forethought.

"Here is all that you require," I then said; "I will tell you when
supper is ready."

When I returned to the sitting-room I found that Paul had shut himself
in the other room, so I sat down to wait.

A waiter