“_Ah, la dame anglaise!_” She ate, but not finally. “_Madame est assez
bien, je crois. Mais pardon, monsieur. Je n’ai pas d’instructions à vous
donner_----”
“But!” I pleaded. “But----”
“_Je regrette, monsieur. C’est pas ma faute, vous savez. Pardon._”
She was closing the door! Terse as you like. I was helpless. “_Madame
est assez bien, je crois!_” Dear Heaven, but didn’t one know those
_assez biens_! Isn’t there a company in Heaven wholly recruited from
those who have been _assez bien_, and daily augmented by those who are
_assez bien_!