spy in the camp--Hedwig. It will be as well she does not
recognize me without my cue."

Running his large red hand over his whiskers, he jovially accosted the
girl, after adjusting his formidable accoutrement field-glass,
guide-book, case and heavy watch chain, adorned with a compass and a
pedometer. She stood on the porch before the windows of the room into
which her mistress had entered so early in the morning.

"What do you seek, monsieur?" she challenged, after an unfavorable
glance upon the stranger who had greatly offended her idea of dignity by
not ringing and waiting at the portals to be officially admitted.

"Pardon me, young lady," the man said, with the southern accent so
strong that a flavor of garlic at once pervaded the air, "but I did not
think that your papa and mamma and the family were in the house, seeing
that it is for sale."

"Young lady? My papa? Let me tell you that I am the housemaid here and
if you have intended to jest--"

"Jest! purchasing a house, and rather large gardens, is no jest, not in
the environs of Paris!" returned the visitor. "Is it you who are to show
the property?"

"No. If you will wait, I will tell master," said Hedwig, not at all
flattered by being pretendedly taken for "the daughter of the house."

She turned round, made the half-circuit of the house, and entered the
breakfast-room where the three gentlemen were still in debate.

"A gentleman, to see the house, with a view to purchase, eh?" said
Clemenceau. "Very well, I will go into the drawing-room and speak with
him. Is your mistress having a nap?"

"No, monsieur."

"Then, be so good as to tell her that somebody has come about the house,
and as such inquirers are sure to be supplied by their wives with
formidable lists of questions about domestic details, I should be
obliged by her coming down to send the person away satisfied."

He followed Hedwig on the way up through the house as far as the
drawing-room door, where his path branched off. Entering, he threw open
the double window-sashes and politely asked the gentleman to make use of
this direct road, with an apology for suggesting it. But he had seen at
a glance that this kind of happy-go-lucky tourist was not of the
ceremonious strain.

"It is you, monsieur," began the latter, taking the seat pointed out to
him and immediately swinging one leg, mounted on the other knee, with
the utmost nonchalance, "it is you who are the proprietor of this pretty
place?