"Oh, the Misses Rookes—twins. They go by the name of the 'Powerful' and the 'Terrible'!"
Captain Haig laughed aloud.
"Yes," resumed his mentor, "and this little dressy woman, with tremendous knee action, who prances alongside of the rosy-cheeked youth, is Mrs. Waller, with her third husband. They are known as 'the Skipper and the Boy'!"
"Splendid!" ejaculated the other.
"And that red-faced man yonder is Turnbull, the great traveller. He is called 'the Crimson Rambler!' Rather good, eh?"
"Rather—but who are these coming now?—this girl and the squat old woman—walking in a sort of crowd, with a dog?"
"Oh, that is Madame de Godez—Madame de Gaudy they call her—a fabulously wealthy widow. She always reminds me of a toad, with her dark, mottled face, bright black eyes, and huge chinless mouth. Madame is a personage here, as you may see. Gives wonderful dinners and picnics, subscribes to everything, and is quite in the smart set!"
"Great Scotland!" ejaculated his listener, "why, she looks for all the world like an old Portuguese half-caste!"
"She is Portuguese, I believe; of blue, not black, blood."
"And the girl?—she is a jewel, if the other is a toad. The princess and the witch. What do they call her here?"