strumpet than a duchess. However, that is no business of mine. Do just
as you please."

I was in a state of perplexity. I had written to the _City of Paris_ to
retain our rooms, and now I did not know what to do.

Two commissionaires followed us with our luggage. I continued: "You
might as well go on first, and say that we are coming; and give the
landlord to understand that I have a--a friend with me, so that we
should like rooms quite by themselves for us three, so as not to be
brought in contact with other travelers. He will understand, and we will
decide according to his answer."

But Paul growled, "Thank you; such sort of commissions and such parts do
not suit me by any means. I did not come here to get ready your
apartments or to minister to your pleasures."

But I was urgent: "Look here, don't be angry. It is surely far better to
go to a good hotel than to a bad one, and it is not difficult to ask the
landlord for three separate bedrooms 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 dragging along my fair Italian, who did
not say a word, and followed by 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 there 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 her little
black wooden box, just like servants use, and took it into the room on
the right, which I had chosen for her, ... for us. A bit of paper was
fastened on 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 daresay you
would like to arrange your dress a little?"

She answered with a _mica_, a word which she employed just as frequently
as _Che mi fa_, but I went on: "It is always pleasant after a journey."

Then I suddenly remembered that she had not, perhaps, the necessary
objects, for s