Somewhat later I heard a knock on the door. I exclaimed ‘Come in!’ and found that I had my voice again; yet there was nothing in the tone of it to help my memory. Alphonse entered and bade me good-morning. ‘You look better, madame,’ said he; ‘do you feel better?’ ‘Yes; I feel stronger and better this morning.’ ‘Now, what did I tell you? Perhaps to-morrow you will be able to get up. Are you hungry?’ ‘I believe I can eat,’ I said. He snapped his fingers and instantly went out. When he returned he brought with him a cup of chocolate, some biscuits, marmalade and butter, and a boiled egg. ‘What think you of this breakfast, madame, for a little brick? We have six hens on board, and this is the only egg this morning. Can you eat without help or shall I feed you?’ ‘I think I can eat without help if I sit up.’ On this he put his hand into the shelf over my head and took several boards out of it. I could now sit up; he placed the tray on my knees and I ate and drank. ‘You are very good, you are very kind to me,’ said I. ‘What return shall I be able to make--what acknowledgment----’ and I ceased eating to press my hand to my brow. ‘Continue your breakfast,’ said he. ‘We will not talk of acknowledgment here. At Toulon you will obtain excellent medical advice. And now shall I tell you something?’ added he, with a smile. I looked at him. ‘You are a lady. Your accent is that of the English lady of birth. I cannot mistake. I have waited upon many English ladies, and can always tell a lady of title. Do I assist your memory when I say that you are a lady of title?’ Seeing that I shook my head, he continued: ‘I call you madame. Perhaps I should say milady, or perhaps I should say miss. I beg your pardon, but you have no rings. A lady like you will have rings. Are they in the pocket of your dress? I ask, because if you saw your rings you might remember.’ ‘Where is my dress?’ ‘It is here,’ and he stepped to a part of the cabin near the door and held up the dress. I fastened my eyes upon it, but it suggested nothing. ‘Has it a pocket?’ I said. He felt, and answered, ‘Yes, and there is something in it,’ and slipping in his hand he brought out a pocket handkerchief and a purse. ‘Aha!’ he cried. He examined the handkerchief and said: ‘Here are two letters--“A. C.” Pronounce them.’ I did so. ‘Now what do they signify?’ I turned them over and over and over again in my mind. ‘They suggest nothing,’ I said. ‘Patience!’ he exclaimed, and opening the purse he looked into it. ‘Nothing but money,’ he said, after examining the two or three divisions. ‘Here is one pound; and here,’ he continued, turning the money into his hand, ‘are two half-crowns, sixpence, and some pennies. Is there nothing more?’ He looked again, and exclaimed with a stamp of his foot: ‘Nothing but money!’ CHAPTER V ON BOARD ‘NOTRE DAME’