"You wis' to inquire about ze situation—eh?" pursued this individual, without any token of impatience. "I haf already seen feefty of ze London demoiselles ce matin."
"Oh, if you have already engaged some one, I will not trouble you!" stammered Jane, edging toward the door.
"Not so fast—not so fast, madmoiselle; it iss true I haf already engage; but— Ah, zis iss bettaire! More chic—oui. Your name, s'il vous plait?"
"Jane Evelyn Aubrey-Blythe," murmured the girl.
"An' you wis' to go to ze ozzer side—to America—oui?"
"I wish to leave London; yes."
"To-morrow evenin', zen, I go by ze train. Zen I sail on ze so gra-a-nd ship. You go wiz me—eh?"
Jane stared at the woman with some astonishment. "What would be my—my duties?" she asked.
"Your duties? Why, to go wiz me—my compagnon de voyage—comprenez? Nossing else, I assure you; I wait on myself. But I am—what you call it—lone-some—see? An' I require a nize, young lady to go wiz me."
Mrs. Markle smiled affably, revealing a double row of glistening white teeth. She looked very kind and good-natured, and Jane drew a quick breath.