"Well," said the O.C., "what luck? We're looking forward to real beds again, I can tell you!"
I felt myself growing red. "The men and horses are arranged for, Sir," I stammered, and then suddenly a voice at my side took up the tale: "And if you will come wiz me I shall 'elp ze Captain to show to you ze rooms 'e 'as found." Unable to utter a word, I bowed, and we followed Madame to the first house at which I had earlier tried so unsuccessfully. She knocked at the door like a fury, and no sooner was it opened than she went in without more ado, and we after her. "I have come to show M'sieu the Colonel the room that you have prepared for him," she said in her own language to the old woman, who stood bowing and smiling as hard as she could. Then she opened a door and took us into the nicest room imaginable.
"'Ere I 'ope you will be 'appy, my Colonel," she continued. "Zis is ze best room ze Captain could find for you. Also I 'ope you will find Madame aimable;" and here she looked at the old woman, who started bowing again harder than ever. It was the same at all the other houses. Passing from one to another she commandeered room after room, even managing to wrest a bed from the father of six; and I verily believe that the inhabitants would have burned their dwellings to warm us had the little lady ordered it. All the while she maintained the fiction that I had arranged things previously.
"I 'ave just come wiz ze Captain to see everyting ees what you call spick," she said on leaving us.
"And a very good business you have made of it," said the O.C. to me approvingly. Still greatly puzzled, I returned to thank my benefactress. After expressing my gratitude I ventured to tell her that she had been much kinder to me than I had been led to expect.
"But 'ave I not see you kees my little son?" she said gravely.
"Ah," I said to myself, "that's it!" and, stooping down to where he was playing, I did it again with added warmth.
From the transactions of the Royal Dublin Society:—
"Professor Hugh Ryan, M.A., D.Sc., and Mr. M. J. Walsh, M.Sc.—'On Desoxyhydrocatechintetramethylether.'"