"We have," she answered curtly, wondering if this extraordinary creature could be suffering from cold on this warm spring day. "I had better write my name down!" This was too much! Mademoiselle thought now that he was not only a burglar, but a lunatic. "I think," I said, "I can give you the address of a very nice maid," trying to lead him back into the paths we had trodden before. "Oh! that'll be all right. You have perhaps a maid in the house?" "Certainly we have," answered Mademoiselle with asperity, giving her velvet bow an agitated pat. "Money is no object," continued he; "I'm always willing to pay what one asks." Mademoiselle now thought he was drunk and was for sending for the servants. I asked him, "How is the baby?" "Oh! baby's all right. The nurse has been a little upset by the journey. You might give us the address of your doctor." "Yes, yes." I gave him the name instantly, hoping he would go. "We don't need him right off; he can come here later, and you can talk to him yourself. Maria does not speak French." Mademoiselle gasped for breath, while he looked about him approvingly. "Real nice house you have, Madame, not very central, but we don't mind being in a quiet part of Paris, as Maria wants to learn French"; and seeing the conservatory, he remarked: "Arthur can play in there. That'll do splendidly." After an awkward pause: "Well, if the rooms are ready, we can come right in. Maria will be wondering why I have been so long." _I_ also wondered why he had been so long! To cap the climax, he handed Mademoiselle a five-franc piece, saying: "I guess this will cover the cab. The coachman can keep the change." A light dawned on me! He thought this was a hotel! I said, "When you get settled in your hotel I will come and see you." "What! Can't you take us in? We counted on coming to your hotel." I laughed outright. Mademoiselle raised what she is pleased to call her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders, I explained to my guest his mistake. Instead of saying, "Oh! that's all right," he said, "Well, I'll be blessed," and without wasting any more time than for a hasty good-by he marched out to join the tired Maria, the baby, the nurse, and Arthur. We watched them as they drove off, all gazing out of the window at the hotel which was _not_ a hotel. May Allah protect them! _March 19th._ DEAR MOTHER,--The day before yesterday Henry and I decided to go to Petit Val. I looked forward with delight to seeing my beautiful home again. Mrs. Moulton promised to drive out and bring me back to Paris late in the afternoon. We drove to the Gare de la Bastille and took our tickets for La Varenne. The station was so horribly dirty, it looked as if it had not been swept or cleaned since the commencement of the war, and as for the first-class compartment we entered I really hesitated to sit down on the shabby and dilapidated cushions.