"Now, Monsieur Bonnet, do exert your gallantry, and find me a seat on deck. The cabin is intolerably warm, I cannot stay here;--where are Emmeline and the Baron?" "You see, Madame," he said, pointing towards the couple, "Montbrun take a tabouret at once, when we come on board, and Mademoiselle Emmeline now has it. It was very maladroit in me not to keep one for you; I beg a t'ousand pardons." {"tabouret" = a stool; "maladroit" = careless (French)} "Haven't you got a seat; that is a pity. But I dare say you can easily find one." "Vraiment, ma chere Madame EEL-sun, there is no sacrifice I would not make to procure you one. I am desole it should be impossible. I have been looking; but all the tabourets and chair are taken by ladies and gentlemans. You have a drole de maniere of travel in this countree; so many people together, the ladies must be victimes sometime." {"Vraiment, ma chere..." = truly, my dear...; "drole de maniere" = funny way (French)} "Oh, no; you don't know how to manage, that is all. Has not the Baron a chair?" "Non, Madame; you see he is debout." {"debout" = standing (French)} "Well, there are some gentlemen seated; I see three or four--one quite near you. Ask him for his chair." The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders, and looked bewildered. "Pray, ask that gentleman for his chair," repeated the lady, pointing with her parasol to a person sitting at no great distance. "But, Madame, the gentleman will not know what a charming lady wish for the chair--he will not give it." "Oh, no danger; if you tell him it is for a lady, of course he will let you have it. Why, how slow you are about it; you are almost as bad as Captain Kockney, who never did anything when he was asked." "Ah, Madame, de graces do not say that!--I go." {"de graces" = please (French)} And Monsieur Bonnet, edging his way here and there behind the ladies, and begging ten thousand pardons, at length reached the person Mrs. Hilson had pointed out to him. "What did you say?" exclaimed this individual, looking up rather gruffly, at being addressed by an utter stranger. "Mille pardons, Monsieur," continued Monsieur Bonnet; "a lady is very much oppressed with fatigue, and send me to beg you will be aimable to give her your chair." {"mille pardons" = excuse me; "aimable" = obliging enough (French)} "What is it?" repeated the man, who looked like an Englishman; "I don't understand you." Monsieur Bonnet again urged his request, in terms still more civil. It would be rendering a very great service to the lady, he said. "I am not acquainted with the lady; I advise you to look for an empty chair," replied the other, resolutely turning his face in an opposite direction.