"Not a bit of it, auntie. She is as peart as you or I; but she knows something about Muriel, and we'd better hear it. Designing little monkey! It is just scandalous the way that girl goes on with Gerald and all the young fellows who will mind her. I have long suspected there was something, and Uncle Dionysius always said he never knew that the Stanleys had had a brother at all, till he was shown this daughter."
"Surely that was sufficient."
"I don't know. Let's hear her, any way," and she drew her chair forward, smirking and nodding her head by way of introduction to the French woman.
"Vous avez raison, Mademoiselle."
"I told you so, auntie. She says I have reason. That means sense, of course, and I believe her; though some people"--and she sighed--"don't seem to see it. She is evidently a person of penetration and sagacity, this--a superior person. We'd better hear what she has to say. Wee, wee, ma bong fam," turning to the stranger; "but speak English. Parley Onglay, you know, we haven't much French here."
Annette knitted her dark brows and coughed determinedly; and then she stopped, and as another thought seemed to strike her, the frown cleared itself away before the propitiatory smile which she turned on her interviewers, as the night police cast the gleam of their bull's-eye on those who accost them.
"Since madame and mademoiselle are of ze parents of Mees Stanley, it is of their right, it is able to be of their advantage to know."
"Parents? Betsey. Penelope must be every day as old as I am. I told you the poor creature's wits were unsettled."
"Tush! auntie. Be quiet. Wee, wee; but speak English, Mrs. Bruneau. To be sure we wish to hear something to our advantage. Go on."
"But madame and mademoiselle must promesse not never to say zat the connaissance have come from me. My man vould lose his emploi chez Mees Stanley for sure."