'I have been about a good deal in England; altogether a couple of years. But, my dear sir, you are not to judge by time alone; you must take into account the capacity of the observer as well. Now I am very quick at observing.'
'So I _perceive_,' said the other, at which there was a faint titter.
The dark man did not heed the interruption, beyond smiling a good-humoured welcome to the slight repartee, and went on. 'I am a cosmopolite. I belong to the family of man. My native country is the earth; and I have been a good bit over my native country. This is my tenth visit to London. I have been three weeks in London this time.' Looking across the table at the dark-eyed girl, he said,--'I do think it was a fair specimen of observation that I knew you when you came into the room. You arrived this morning, I believe?'
It seemed she could not speak without smiling.
'Stop. I have a memory for facts as well as for faces. I can recall your name. Taking into account all the people I have met since, I do think it good to be able to recall your name. Your name is Irish--O'Connor.'
'Ah! And your Christian name is Italian--Luigia.'
'Wonderfully accurate!' said the gentleman at the foot of the table.
'Well,' said the dark man, 'I admit I am not good at names, but I am at facts. Now, I remember that in New York you had a maid.'
'I have her still. She goes everywhere with me. She is Irish. Her name is O'Connor--Judith O'Connor.'
'I knew there was something Irish and O'Connorish about you. She has black hair and dark eyes, and a pert nose and perter manner.'
'Yes; but it would not be prudent for you to say these things about her nose and her manner to herself.'
'I'm not very prudent, but I know that. Let me see if I cannot remember something more of you. You are a kind of specimen woman of humanity.'
The broad-chested, good-looking, fair-haired young man sitting beside the speaker involuntarily laid down his spoon in his soup-plate, stole a glance at the traveller by his side, and then a still more quiet glance at the dark-eyed girl opposite. She caught his eyes and turned hers full upon him. He looked down, took up his spoon, and resumed his dinner.
'The more of such specimens the pleasanter the world would be,' said the man at the foot of the table, bending gallantly.