"You mean that he does not speak to us?"
"Precisely so."
"And suppose he has nothing to say?"
"What nonsense! Nothing to say, indeed! Cannot he ask us for news about our country, or yours—about England or France?"
"If I were to tell him that ours was in the full swing of a republic," said de Morin, "I am afraid he would not understand me. King Munza appears to me to turn a deaf ear to our advanced ideas."
"However that may be, as an Englishwoman, I am annoyed at the want of respect shown towards me, and, moreover, I do not feel at all comfortable amongst all these men."
"Now, really. Miss Poles," replied Delange, with his usual coolness, "that is unreasonable. If anyone ought to feel uncomfortable, it should be Périères, de Morin, and I, in the presence of all these women. But we look at you—and forget them."
"Your fine speeches are thrown away upon me," said Miss Poles, who appeared to have changed her mind with regard to Delange, and spoke with a considerable amount of acerbity, "I am determined to break in upon this silence and compel the King to look at us."
"He is looking at you already."
"I declare it is true," exclaimed Miss Poles, blushing.