“Let us pardon Frenchmen because of Frenchwomen,” he said.
“You are right, Will,” replied Ethel. “I admire Frenchwomen—they seem so superior to the men; for among the men there are some so mean. Think of Vieillecloche printing such outrageous things in his newspaper! Really, in his place I should be ashamed of myself! Who is Vieillecloche, anyway?”
“He’s a remarkable duelist,” answered Caracal. “There are already five dead men in his trail.”
“What a coward!” said Ethel. “I would wager that if he were hit with a check, he would apologize to us!”
“Oh, let him alone!” said Will. “He does us no harm—the barking dog doesn’t bite.”
“He’s annoying, all the same.”
“If it were my own case I would silence him!” Caracal declared.
“But could you do it?” asked Ethel. “It would be very kind of you to do so. I can’t go anywhere at all without hearing ‘Richard the Lion-hearted’ with smiles all around me. It haunts me. It almost spoils my stay in Paris. Can you rid me of it, Monsieur Caracal?”
“I shall do so!” declared Caracal.
“I thank you!” said Miss Rowrer.