"Of course, Abe," Leon said with ironic precision, "when a judge like you says something, y'understand, then it's so. Take another of them sixty-cent ice-creams, Moe." Ordinarily Abe would have turned Leon's sarcasm with a retort in kind, but Leon's remark fell on deaf ears, for Abe was listening to a conversation at the next table and the language was English. "It's time to start back to the hotel," said the young lady to her escort, who was an elderly gentleman. Abe turned to Moe and Leon. "Excuse me for a few minutes," he said; "I got to go back to the hotel for something." He handed Leon a twenty-franc piece. "If I shouldn't get back, pay the bill!" he cried, and jumping to his feet he followed the couple from the next table. The old gentleman walked feebly with the aid of a cane, and the young lady held him by the arm as they proceeded to the main entrance of the Grand Hotel. Abe dogged their footsteps until the old gentleman disappeared into the lift and the young lady retired to the winter garden that forms the interior court of the hotel. As she seated herself in a wicker chair Abe approached with his hat in his hand. "Lady, excuse me," he began; "I ain't no loafer. I'm in the cloak and suit business, and I would like to speak to you a few words--something very particular." The young lady turned in her chair. She was not alarmed, only surprised. "I hope you don't think I am asking you anything out of the way," Abe said, without further prelude; "but you got a dress on, lady, which I don't know how much you paid for it, but if three hundred of these here--now--francs would be any inducement I'd like to buy it from you. Of course I wouldn't ask you to take it off right now, but if you would leave it at the clerk's desk here I could call for it in half an hour." The young lady made no reply, instead she threw back her head and laughed heartily. "It ain't no joke, lady," Abe continued as he laid three flimsy notes of the Bank of France in her lap. "That's as good as American greenbacks." The young lady ceased laughing, and for a minute, hesitated between indignation and renewed mirth, but at last her sense of humour conquered. "Very well," she said; "stay here for a few minutes." Half an hour later she returned with the dress wrapped up in a paper parcel. "How did you know I wouldn't go off with the money, dress and all?" she asked as Abe seized the package. "I took a chance, lady," he said; "like you are doing about the money which I give you being good." "Have no scruples on that score," the young lady replied. "I had it examined at the clerk's office just now." * * * * * When M. Adolphe Kaufmann-Levi bade farewell to Moe, Abe, Leon, and Hymie Salzman, at the Gare St. Lazare, he uttered words of encouragement and cheer which failed to justify themselves after the four travellers' embarkment at Cherbourg.