“I bowed to her in token of understanding what she said, but I was not sure that she noticed it, for she just went on chattering in her soft little voice.

“‘Poor old raven,’ she said.  ’What a pity you can’t speak, for if you could I might send a message by you to those pretty young ladies;’ and though I walked slowly backwards and forwards on the balcony, and bowed most politely each time I passed her, yet she did not seem to understand.”

“Why didn’t you speak?” interrupted Jeanne.  “You can speak quite well to Cheri and me.  Had you not learned to speak at that time, Dudu?”

The raven hemmed and hawed and cleared his throat.

“It is not to the point, Mademoiselle,” he said, “to enter into all these explanations.  If you would have the goodness to let me continue my reminiscences without interrupting me, I should really be obliged.  I warned you I had not any amusing stories to tell, merely recollections of scenes in my past life.  If you would prefer my leaving off, you have only to say so.”

“Oh no, no.  Please go on,” exclaimed Jeanne, seeing that the raven was really ruffled.  “I think it’s very interesting, and I’ll promise not to interrupt you any more.”

“Well,” continued Dudu, “I bowed, as I told you, very politely two or three times, and at last I hopped away, still revolving in my mind how I could serve the poor little girl.  That afternoon our young ladies came again on to the terrace, but they did not stay long, and the little girl was not to be seen on the balcony, though I daresay she was peering out through the window to see as far as she could.  And the next day and the day after were very rainy, so there was nothing I could do.  But after that again there came a very fine day—­a beautiful sunny day it was, I remember it well—­and our young ladies came out like the flowers and the birds to enjoy it.  Out, too, came the forlorn little black figure, hiding itself as before behind the railings of the balcony, but looking with longing eyes at the garden below, which to her must have seemed a kind of Paradise.  I directed my steps to the terrace, and walked slowly in front of the young ladies, slowly and solemnly straight in front of them, for I wanted to attract their attention.

“‘How particularly solemn Dudu looks to-day,’ said one of them to the other.

“‘Yes,’ she replied, ’quite as if he had something on his mind.  Have you been doing anything naughty, Dudu?’

“I turned and looked at her reproachfully.  I was not offended, I knew she was only joking, my character stood far above any imputation; but still, there are subjects on which jokes are better avoided, and there was a cousin of mine whose honesty, I am sorry to say, had been more than once suspected; altogether, I hardly thought the remark in good taste, and Mademoiselle Eliane was not slow to perceive it.

“‘Poor old Dudu,’ she cried; ’have I hurt your feelings?  But tell me what are you looking so solemn about?’