"Just exactly what she is trying to do, boy. Let those poor chaps with guns in their hands to defend her civilization as well as theirs, die for want of a supply train hauled by reliable mules when unreliable gasoline fails. That's what women are like." And as he spoke I perceived the depth of dislike that was in the heart of my Uncle, the General Robert, for all of womankind. "There are some women who would not so comport themselves, my Uncle Robert. I give you my word as one--" Then as I hesitated in terror at the revelation of my woman's estate I had been about to make, my Uncle, the General Robert, made this remark to me: "Women are like crows, all black; and the exceptional white one only makes the rest look blacker. The only way to stop them in their depredations is to trap them, since the law forbids shooting them." And as he made this judgment of women I forgot for a moment that we discussed that Madam Whitworth, whom it was causing me great pain to discover to be the enemy of France, and I thought of my beautiful mother, whom he had judged without ever having encountered, and a great longing rose in my heart so to comport myself that his heart should learn to trust in me as a man and then discover the honor of woman through me at some future time. I took a resolve that such should be the case and to that end I asked of him: "How is it that I can serve you in these serious troubles, my Uncle Robert?" And as I asked that question I made also a vow in my heart against that black crow woman. "Now that's what I'm coming to. The French Government is sending an army expert down here to look over the situation and make the contracts. I can't speak their heathenish tongue or read it, and I want somebody whom I can trust--trust, mind you--to help me talk with him and make any necessary translations. That Whitworth hussy has been translating for us and I don't trust her. Your letter was handed to me in the Governor's private office and both he and I saw what a help it would be to have you here when this Frenchie--who is a Count Something or Other--and his servants and secretaries, what he calls his suite, arrive. By George, sir, we need your advice in eating and drinking them! Do you suppose they'll have intelligence enough to eat the manna of the gods, which is corn pone, and drink the nectar, which is plain whiskey, or will we be expected to furnish them with snails and absinthe?" At that I laughed a very large laugh and made this answer to the perturbation of my Uncle, the General Robert: "I will tell you after luncheon, my Uncle Robert, because I have not as yet eaten in this Harpeth country of America."