"At least," she said, "he's done his duty by his country."
"W-what!" I stammered.
"The population of Norway is so very small," she added gaily. And went on with her dusting.
"Minx," thought I to myself as I marched down stairs and out toward the fountain where, from the servants' wing of the chalet Thusis could not fail to observe me. And she did. She appeared, presently, account books under one arm. Out of the subtle corner of my subtlest eye—the left one—I observed her. And with surpassing cunning I selected a yellow fly from the battered book and tied it on my leader.
"Monsieur!"
"Good-morning, Thusis. We're going fishing. So if you'll ask Josephine to put up some war lunch for us—"
"Has Monsieur forgotten his daily business interview?" she inquired smilingly.
"Not at all. But we're going to conserve time as well as food, Thusis. We can fish and consult at the same time."
"But—"
"All waste must cease," I said firmly. "We mustn't waste even a minute in the day. And if we can do two things at the same time it is our economic duty to do them." I smiled at her. "I shall dig worms," said I, "for two, while you prepare lunch for two. That is a wonderful way of economizing time and labor, isn't it, Thusis?"