For a moment I was too mad to speak. Finally I said: "Of course you ignored their bells."
"No, I answered them."
"You didn't go into their rooms!"
"No. I knocked politely. Monsieur Xenos flirted with me——"
"What!"
"In a whisper through the keyhole. So I went away to see what Monsieur Itchenuff desired." She laughed and, lifting the coffee-pot, filled Smith's cup. "Monsieur Itchenuff wanted me to bring him breakfast. He also said he always breakfasted in bed——"
"Keep away from that pair!" said Smith violently.
But Clelia's eyebrows went up and so did her nose, mutely signaling Smith to mind his own affairs.
"Clelia," said he, "I want to talk to you——"
"I'm here to wait on you, not to talk to you!" she retorted.