“What’s the joke?” inquired the guide.

“Leony,” said Ben, ignoring the guide’s question. “Remember that song they used to sing in Paris?” He began to mumble:

“Sacré nom de nom de nom,

La mademoiselle was pretty but dumb

Many are called but few can come

O sacré nom de nom de nom!

She refused his francs, refused his rum,

Because she said she couldn’t come.

Her grandmère cried, ‘O nom de nom!’

‘Where does she get such dumbness from?’