The little fellow turned towards me imploringly, with “Please don’t go. My dear sir, you are so greatly abrupt. We have no men like you in La Belle France.”
“Heaven knows, I hope but few like you,” I responded. “Now, which is it, yes, or no? I will give you just thirty seconds in which to answer,” and I timed him, thoroughly resolved to do as I had said.
Before the expiration of the time mentioned, Le Compte sat down, and with a despairing shrug of the shoulders, said “Yes.”
I immediately returned, sat down in front of him, and said, “Well, Le Compte, now go ahead with your story like a man.”
“What must it be like?” he asked innocently.
“What must it be like?” I repeated, aghast. “Why, you don’t intend to manufacture a story for me against this woman, do you?”
“Oh, no, no, never. But
