The gentleman would put them on and walk past--_voil_." "Can you look like a groom ?" asked the duchess.

"If he speaks to you, make your French just a _little_ worse"-- and she smiled.
They were all so calm and businesslike that it would have seemed disobliging and absurd to make difficulties.
"We can send your luggage soon, you know," said the duchess.

"You had better hide Mr.Aycon's luggage in your room, Suzanne.

Really, I am afraid you ought to be getting ready, Mr.Aycon." The point of view again! By virtue of the duchess' calmness and Suzanne's cool readiness, the proceeding seemed a most ordinary one.

Five minutes later I presented myself to the duchess, dressed in a villainous suit of clothes, rather too tight for me, and wearing a bad hat rakishly cocked over one eye.