_Subitissimo_!' He took the basket and hurried to the kitchen.
Constance occupied the interval with the polyglot parrot of the courtyard.

The parrot, since she had last conversed with him, had acquired several new expressions in the English tongue.

As Gustavo reappeared with the eggs, she confronted him sternly.
'Have you been teaching this bird English?
I am surprised!' 'No, signorina.

It was--it was----' Gustavo mopped his brow.

'He jus' pick it up.' 'I'm sorry that the Hotel du Lac has _guests_ that use such language; it's very shocking.' '_Si_, signorina.' 'By the way, Gustavo, how does it happen that that young American man who left last week is still here ?' Gustavo nearly dropped the eggs.
'I just saw him in the garden with a book--I am sure it was the same young man.