upset the
coffee over the table.

"Doubtless," I thought to myself, "he means to tell the tale of the
Englishmen who have come to seek for Ralph. Well, I think that he may
safely tell it now."

Then I looked at Ralph and saw that he also was very ill at ease,
struggling with words which he did not know how to utter. I noted,
moreover, that Suzanne touched his hand with hers beneath the shelter of
the table as though to comfort and encourage him. Now watching these two
men, at last I broke out laughing, and said, addressing them:

"You are like two fires of green weeds in a mealie patch, and I am
wondering which of you will be the first to break into flame or whether
you will both be choked by the reek of your own thoughts."

My gibe, harmless though it was, stung them into speech, and both at
once, for I have noticed, however stupid they may be, that men never
like to be laughed at.

"I have something to say," said each of them, as though with a single
voice, and they paused, looking at one another angrily.

"Then, son, wait till I have finished. Almighty! for the last twenty
minutes you have been sitting as silent as an ant-bear in a hole, and I
tell you that it is my turn now; why, then, do you interrupt me?"

"I am very sorry, my father," said Ralph, looking much afraid, for
he thought that Jan was going to scold him about Suzanne, and his
conscience being guilty caused him to forget that it was not possible
that he should know anything of the matter of his love-making.

"That is good," said Jan, still glaring at him; "but I am not your
father."

"Then why do you call me son?" asked Ralph.

"Almighty! do you suppose that I sit here to answer riddles?" replied
Jan, pulling at his great beard. "Why do I call you son, indeed? Ah!" he
added in a different voice, a sorrowful voice, "why do I when I have no
right? Listen, my boy, we are in sore trouble, I and your mother, or
if she is not your mother at least she loves you as much as though she
were, and I love you too, and you know it; so why do you seek to make a
fool of me by asking me riddles?"

Now, Ralph was about to answer, but Suzanne held up her hand, and he was
quiet.

"My son," went on Jan with a kind of sob, "they are coming to take you
away from us."

"They! Who?" asked Ralph.

"Who? The English, damn them! Yes, I say, damn the English and the
English Government."

"Peace, Jan," I broke in, "this is not a political meeting, where such
tal