Helena had turned to answer the American lady, and Gordon, whose eyes had been on her as if waiting for her to speak, whispered to the Princess—
"Isn't she looking lovely to-day, Princess?"
"Then why don't you tell her so?" said the Princess.
"Hush!" said Gordon, whereupon the Princess said—
"My goodness, what ridiculous creatures men are! What cowards, too! As brave as lions before a horde of savages, but before a woman—mon Dieu!"
"Yes," said the Judge in his slow, shrill voice, "they are fond of talking of the old book of Egypt, yet the valley of the Nile is strewn with the tombs of Egyptians who have perished under their hard taskmasters from the Pharaohs to the Pashas. Can't they hear the murmur of the past about them? Have they no memory if they have no gratitude?"
At the last words General Graves came up to the group, looking hot and excited, and he said—
"Memory! Gratitude! They're a nation of ingrates and fools."
"What's that?" asked the Princess.
"Pardon me, Princess. I say the demonstration of your countrymen to-day is an example of the grossest ingratitude."