'They are useless in street-fighting,' said Carlo.
'Oh, street-fighting!' Captain Gambier vented a soldier's disgust at the notion. 'They're not in Paris. Will you step forward?'
Just then the tall Greek approached the party of English. The introduction was delayed.
He was addressed by the fair lady, in the island tongue, as 'Mr. Pericles.' She thanked him for his extreme condescension in deigning to notice them. But whatever his condescension had been, it did not extend to an admitted acquaintance with the poor speech of the land of fogs. An exhibition of aching deafness was presented to her so resolutely, that at last she faltered, 'What! have you forgotten English, Mr. Pericles? You spoke it the other day.'
'It is ze language of necessity—of commerce,' he replied.
'But, surely, Mr. Pericles, you dare not presume to tell me you choose to be ignorant of it whenever you please?'
'I do not take grits into ze teeth, madame; no more.' 'But you speak it perfectly.'
'Perfect it may be, for ze transactions of commerce. I wish to keep my teez.'
'Alas!' said the lady, compelled, 'I must endeavour to swim in French.'
'At your service, madame,' quoth the Greek, with an immediate doubling of the length of his body.