"Old Ba'teese must have his joke.

Listen, Ba'teese tell you something.

You see people here today, _oui_, yes?
You see, the petite Medaine?
Ah, _oui_!" He clustered his fingers to his lips and blew a kiss toward the ceiling.
"She is the, what-you-say, fine li'l keed.

She is the--_bon bebe_! You no nev' see her before ?" Barry shook his head.

Ba'tiste went on.
"You see M'sieu Thayer?
_Oui_?
You know heem ?" "No." "You sure ?" "Never saw him before." "So ?" Batiste grinned and wagged a finger, "Ba'teese he like the truth, yes, _oui_.