e. I am going to cable to Fabry to
return at once; but while waiting we must persuade these young men to
get to work. Ask them what they are standing there for, little girl."

She translated the question, and the one who seemed to be the chief gave
her a long answer.

"Well?" asked M. Vulfran.

"They are saying some things that are very difficult for me to understand."

"However, try and explain to me."

"They say that the floor is not strong enough to hold their machine,
which weighs...."

She stopped to question the workmen in English, who told her the weight.

"Ah, that is it, is it?" said M. Vulfran.

"And when the machine is started going its weight will break the
flooring," she continued, turning to M. Vulfran.

"The beams are sixty centimetres in width."

She told the men what M. Vulfran said, listened to their reply, then
continued:

"They say that they have examined the flooring, and that it is not safe
for this machine. They want a thorough test made and strong supports
placed under the floor."

"The supports can be placed there at once, and when Fabry returns a
thorough examination will be made. Tell them that. Let them get to work
without losing a moment. They can have all the workmen they need ...
carpenters and masons, millwrights. They have only to tell you. You have
to be at their service, and then you tell Monsieur Benoist what they
require."

She translated these instructions to the men, who appeared satisfied
when she told them that she was to stay and interpret for them.

"You will stay here," continued M. Vulfran. "Your food will be given to
you and also a lodging at the inn. You will have nothing to pay there.
And if we are pleased with you, you will receive something extra when
Monsieur Fabry returns."

CHAPTER XVI

GRANDFATHER'S INTERPRETER

She was an interpreter; that was far better than pushing trucks. When
the day's work was over, acting in the capacity of interpreter, she
escorted the two Englishmen to the village inn and engaged a room for
them and one for herself, not a miserable garret where she would have to
sleep with several others, but a real bedroom all to herself. As they
could not speak one word of French, the two Englishmen asked her if she
would not take her dinner with them. They ordered a dinner that would
have been enough for ten men.

That night she slept in a real bed and between real sheets, yet it was a
very long time before she could get to