But the tavern itself had an air of smartness which an English tavern would hardly have had in the same circumstances. The interior was gay with much looking-glass, and a good deal of tarnished gilding. There were artificial flowers in sham silver vases on the tables, and there was a semi-circular counter at one end of the restaurant, behind which a ponderous divinity, still youthful, but expansive, sat enthroned, her sleek, black hair elaborately dressed, her forehead ornamented with accroche-cœurs, and a cross of Jersey diamonds sparkling upon her swan-like throat, which was revealed by one of those open collars which are dear to the lower order of French women. There was a row of tables in front of the windows which looked towards the quay, and there was a long, narrow table in the middle of the room, laid for the _table d’hôte dejeuner_; but as yet the room was empty, save for one young man and woman, of the tourist order, who were whispering and tittering over a _café complet_ at one of the small tables furthest from the buffet. Theodore went straight to the front of the buffet, and saluted the lady enthroned there. “Madame speaks English, no doubt?” “Oh, yes, but a leetle. I am live long time in Jairsey, where is more English as French peoples.” After this sample speech it seemed to him that he might get on better with the lady in her native tongue, so he asked her for a cup of coffee in her own language, and stood at the counter while he drank it, and talked to her of indifferent matters, she nothing loth. “You have lived a long time in Jersey,” he said. “Does that mean a long time in this house?” “Except one year I have lived in this house all the time, nine years. I was only nineteen when I undertook the position of _dame du comptoir_. I could not have undertaken such a responsibility with a stranger, but the proprietor is my uncle, and he knew how to be indulgent to my youth and inexperience.” “And then, a handsome face is always an attraction. You must have brought him good fortune, madame.” “He is kind enough to say so. He found it difficult to dispense with my services while I was absent, though he had a person from London who had been much admired at the Crystal Palace.” “And you, madame,—was it a feminine caprice, the desire for change, which made you abandon your uncle during that time?” “I left him when I married,” replied the lady, with a profound sigh. “I returned to him a heart-broken widow.”