ruminative.

"I do not find your riddle very clever," he said at last.

Rosina buried the poor, weak, little scintillation at once and stamped
on its grave in hot haste.

"I think that our dinner is coming," she announced presently, turning
her veil above her brows, "and I am so hungry."

"I find your hunger a much better answer of that riddle than to be
breathing smoke," he said.

"Of course you do, because that is the answer that you thought of."

The waitress began to arrange the dishes upon the table and when all was
in order he prepared to serve them both.

"I often start to say most clever things," he said, as he carved the
fish, "but before I can speak you have always say something else."

She took the plate that he passed her, and picked up her fork at once.

"Then when you are silent for a quarter of an hour or so it would really
pay me to keep still and wait; wouldn't it?" she inquired.

He took a mouthful and deliberated.

"I think so," he said at last.

A deep stillness fell over the festal board. Von Ibn was mute and his
companion felt that, the preceding remarks considered, she would be dumb
herself. The entire meal was accordingly eaten in absolute silence,
until, when she had finished, she could not refrain from stealing one
amused glance in his direction.

"You laugh," he said, returning the smile in kind.

"I am sure that it is going to be something very brilliant this time,"
she told him.

He stared for a minute; and then he understood and laughed aloud.

"I only eat then," he exclaimed, "_mais, Dieu! quels enfants nous sommes
ensemble_. I must often wonder if you are so happy with me as I am with
you? I cannot say why it is, but if you only be there I am content. Tell
me, is it at all so for you?"

"I enjoy you," she answered; "most men are stupid or horrid."

"When?" he asked anxiously.

"When one is much with them."

He looked at her with some alarm.

"But are many men much with you?"

Rosina laughed merrily over the trouble in his face.

"You would have been unbearable if you had been of a jealous
disposition," she said, nodding.

"Yes," he replied gravely, "I have always feel that myself; for with me
it is very strong that there shall be no other. But tell me now, truly
are many men much with you?"

"Why I have hosts of friends," she declared, "and, on account of the way
that the world is made, half of them are obliged to be men."

"But you said that they were all