She was undeniably as smart as she was pretty. She listened to me intently, and she asked in English.
“You speak and understand English then perfectly.”
It was a pretty trap, but I was not to be drawn, so I replied in French—
“An American must necessarily speak his own language, mademoiselle;” and at that she laughed softly.
“You are doubtless staying at the Hotel Imperial, the favourite hotel with Americans?”
“No, I am staying at the Palace with my friend the Emperor;” a truth which sounded so ridiculous that she laughed again.
“We will be careful that a friend of our Emperor has his wishes regarded so far as possible.”
We rode some distance after that without speaking until I broke the silence.
“There are three questions I should like to ask, mademoiselle. Have I your permission?”
“I cannot pledge myself to answer them, m’sieur.”