I asked him if he could speak any language besides English, and received for answer that besides English, he could speak Spanish and French.

Forthwith I spoke to him in Spanish, but he did not understand me.

I then asked him to speak to me in Spanish, but he could not.

"Surely you can tell me the word for water in Spanish," said I; he, however, was not able.

"How is it," said I, "that, pretending to be acquainted with Spanish, you do not even know the word for water ?" He said he could not tell, but supposed that he had forgotten the Spanish language, adding however, that he could speak French perfectly.