He looked up and touched his mouth.

‘Pardon him not answering, Madame,’ interposed Vandeloup, ’he has the misfortune to be dumb.’

‘Dumb?’ echoed Madame, with a glance of commiseration, while Archie looked startled, and Selina mentally observed that silence was golden.

’Yes, he has been so from his birth,—­at least, so he gives me to understand,’ said Gaston, with a shrug of his shoulders, which insinuated a doubt on the subject; ’but it’s more likely the result of an accident, for he can hear though he cannot speak.  However, he is strong and willing to work; and I also, if you will kindly give me an opportunity,’ added he, with a winning smile.

‘You have not many qualifications,’ said Madame, shortly, angry with herself for so taking to this young man’s suave manner.

‘Probably not,’ retorted Vandeloup, with a cynical smile.  ’I fancy it will be more a case of charity than anything else, as we are starving.’

Madame started, while Archie murmured ‘Puir deils.’

‘Surely not as bad as that?’ observed Mrs Villiers, in a softer tone.

‘Why not?’ retorted the Frenchman, carelessly.  ’Manna does not fall from heaven as in the days of Moses.  We are strangers in a strange land, and it is hard to obtain employment.  My companion Pierre can work in your mine, and if you will take me on I can keep your books’—­with a sudden glance at a file of papers on the table.

‘Thank you, I keep my own books,’ replied Madame, shortly.  ’What do you say to engaging them, Archie?’

‘We ma gie them a try,’ said McIntosh, cautiously.  ’Ye do need a figger man, as I tauld ye, and the dour deil can wark i’ the claim.’

Madame drew a long breath, and then made up her mind.

‘Very well,’ she said, sharply; ’you are engaged, M. Vandeloup, as my clerk, and your companion can work in the mine.  As to wages and all that, we will settle to-morrow, but I think you will find everything satisfactory.’

‘I am sure of that, Madame,’ returned Vandeloup, with a bow.

‘And now,’ said Madame Midas, graciously, relaxing somewhat now that business was over, ‘you had better have some supper.’

Pierre’s face lighted up when he heard this invitation, and Vandeloup bowed politely.

‘You are very kind,’ he said, looking at Mrs Villiers in a friendly manner; ‘supper is rather a novelty to both of us.’

Selina meanwhile had gone out, and returned with some cold beef and pickles, a large loaf and a jug of beer.  These she placed on the table, and then retired to her seat again, inwardly rebellious at having two tramps at the table, but outwardly calm.

Pierre fell upon the victuals before him with the voracity of a starving animal, and ate and drank in such a savage manner that Madame was conscious of a kind of curious repugnance, and even Archie was startled out of his Scotch phlegm.

‘I wadna care aboot keepin’ yon long,’ he muttered to himself; ’he’s mair like a cannibal nor a ceevalized body.’