On consideration he understood well enough.
"Our mutual friend, Madame Riennes, who is absent in Italy, will be greatly amused when she hears of this episode," said Brother Smith.
"She is indeed a remarkable woman, for only this morning I received a letter in which she informed me that very soon I should meet you, young man, under peculiar circumstances, how peculiar she did not add.

Well, I congratulate you and the young lady.

I assure you, you made quite a pretty picture with nothing but that flower between you, though, I admit, it was rough on the flower.

If I remember right you are fond of the classics, as I am, and will recall to mind a Greek poet named Theocritus.

I think, had he been wandering here in the Alps to-day, he would have liked to write one of his idylls about you two and that flower." "Because of the interruption give pardon, for it is owed an apology," said the solemn Professor, adding, "I think it must have been the emanation of Madame Riennes herself which led us to this place, where we did not at all mean to come, for she is very anxious to know how you progress and what you are doing." "Yes, young friend," broke in Brother Smith, not without a touch of malice, for like the rest he was resentful of Godfrey's desertion of their "circle," "and now we shall be able to tell her." "Say then," said Juliette, "who are these gentlemen, and of what do they talk ?" "They--are--friends of mine," Godfrey began to explain with awkward hesitation, but she cut him short with: "I like not your friends.