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which； as a work of Art； was simply adorableI say no more。 Secondly； my
green silk dress； trimmed with my mother's famous laceanother work of
Art； equally adorable with the first。 Whether I looked at the
luncheon…table； or whether I looked in the glass； I could feel that I
worthily asserted my nation； I could say to myself； Even in this remote
corner of the earth； the pilgrim of civilization searching for the
elegant luxuries of life； looks and seesFrance supreme！
The clock chimed the quarter past three。 Lucilla； wearying； for the
hundredth time of waiting in her own room； put her head in at the door；
and still repeated the never…changing question〃No signs of them yet？〃
〃None； my love。〃
〃Oh； how much longer will they keep us waiting！〃
〃Patience； Lucillapatience！〃
She disappeared again； with a weary sigh。 Five minutes more passed； and
old Zillah peeped into the room next。
〃Here they are； ma'am； in a chaise at the gate！〃
I shook out the skirts of my green silk； I cast a last inspiriting glance
at the Mayonnaise。 Nugent's cheerful voice reached me from the garden；
conducting the strangers。 〃This way； gentlemenfollow me。〃 A pause。
Steps outside。 The door opened。 Nugent brought them in。
Herr Grosse； from America。 Mr。 Sebright of London。
The German gave a little start when my name was mentioned。 The Englishman
remained perfectly unaffected by it。 Herr Grosse had heard of my glorious
Pratolungo。 Mr。 Sebright was barbarously ignorant of his existence。 I
shall describe Herr Grosse first； and shall take the greatest pains with
him。
A squat； broad； sturdy body； waddling on a pair of short bandy legs；
slovenly； shabby； unbrushed clothes； a big square bilious…yellow face；
surmounted by a mop of thick iron…grey hair； dark beetle…brows； a pair of
staring； fierce； black； goggle eyes； with huge circular spectacles
standing up like fortifications in front of them； a shaggy beard and
mustache of mixed black； white； and grey； a prodigious cameo ring on the
forefinger of one hairy hand； the other hand always in and out of a deep
silver snuff…box like a small tea…caddy； a rough rasping voice； a
diabolically humourous smile； a curtly confident way of speaking；
resolution； independence； power； expressed all over him from head to
footthere is the portrait of the man who held in his hands （if Nugent
was to be trusted） the restoration of Lucilla's sight！
The English oculist was as unlike his German colleague as it is possible
for one human being to be to another。
Mr。 Sebright was slim and spare； and scrupulously （painfully） clean and
neat。 His smooth light hair was carefully parted； his well…shaved face
exhibited two little crisp morsels of whisker about two inches long； and
no hair more。 His decent black clothes were perfectly made； he wore no
ornaments； not even a watch…chain； he moved deliberately； he spoke
gravely and quietly； disciplined attention looked coldly at you out of
his light grey eyes； and said； Here I am if you want me； in every
movement of his thin finely…cut lips。 A thoroughly capable man； beyond
all doubtbut defend me from accidentally sitting next to him at dinner；
or traveling with him for my only companion on a long journey！
I received these distinguished persons with my best grace。 Herr Grosse
complimented me in return on my illustrious name； and shook hands。 Mr。
Sebright said it was a beautiful day； and bowed。 The German； the moment
he was at liberty to look about him； looked at the luncheon…table。 The
Englishman looked out of window。
〃Will you take some refreshment； gentlemen？〃
Herr Grosse nodded his shock head in high approval。 His wild eyes glared
greedily at the Mayonnaise through his prodigious spectacles。 〃Aha！ I
like that；〃 said the illustrious surgeon； pointing at the dish with his
ringed forefinger。 〃You know how to make himyou make him with creams。
Is he chickens or lobsters？ I like lobsters best； but chickens is goot
too。 The garnish is lofelyanchovy； olive； beetroots； brown； green； red；
on a fat white sauce！ This I call a heavenly dish。 He is nice…cool in two
different ways； nice…cool； to the eye； nice…cool to the taste！ Soh！ we
will break into his inside。 Madame Pratolungo； you shall begin。 Here goes
for the liver…wings！〃
In this extraordinary Englishturning words in the singular into words
in the plural； and banishing from the British vocabulary the copulative
conjunction 〃and〃Herr Grosse announced his readiness to sit down to
lunch。 He was politely recalled from the Mayonnaise to the patient by his
discreet English colleague。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Mr。 Sebright。 Would it not be advisable to see
the young lady； before we do anything else？ I am obliged to return to
London by the next train。〃
Herr Grosse…with a fork in one hand and a spoon in the other； and a
napkin tied round his neckstared piteously； shook his shock head； and
turned his back on the Mayonnaise； with a heavy heart at parting。
〃Goot。 We shall do our works first： then eat our lunches afterwards。
Where is the patients？ Come…begin…begin！〃 He removed the napkin； blew a
sigh （there is no other way of expressing it）and plunged his finger and
thumb into his tea…caddy snuff…box。 〃Where is the patients？〃 he repeated
irritably。 〃Why is she not close…handy in here？〃
〃She is waiting in the next room；〃 I said。 〃I will bring her in directly。
You will make allowances for her； gentlemen； I am sure； if you find her a
little nervous？〃 I added； looking at both the oculists。 Silent Mr。
Sebright bowed。 Herr Grosse grinned diabolically； and said； 〃Make your
mind easy； my goot creature。 I am not such a brutes as I look！〃
〃Where is Oscar？〃 asked Nugent； as I passed him on my way to Lucilla's
room。
〃After altering his mind a dozen times at least；〃 I replied； 〃he has
decided on not being present at the examination。〃
I had barely said the words before the door opened； and Oscar entered the
room。 He had altered his mind for the thirteenth timeand here he was as
the result of it！
Herr Grosse burst out with an exclamation in his own language； at the
sight of Oscar's face。 〃Ach； Gott！〃 he exclaimed； 〃he has been taking
Nitrates of Silvers。 His complexions is spoilt。 Poor boys！ poor boys！〃 He
shook his shaggy headturnedand spat compassionately into a corner of
the room。 Oscar looked offended； Mr。 Sebright looked disgusted； Nugent
thoroughly enjoyed it。 I left the room and closed the door behind me。
I had not taken two steps in the corridor when I heard the door opened
again。 Looking back directly； I found myself； to my amazement； face to
face with Herr Grossestaring ferociously at me through his spectacles；
and offering me his arm！
〃Hosh！〃 said the famous oculist in a heavy whisper。 〃Say nothing to
nobody。 I am come to help you。〃
〃To help me？〃 I repeated。
Herr Grosse nodded vehementlyso vehemently that his prodigious
spectacles hopped up and down on his nose。
〃What did you tell me just now？〃 he asked。 〃You told me the patient was
nervous。 Goot！ I am come to go with you to the patients； and help you to
fetch her。 Soh！ soh！ I am not such a brutes as I look。 Come…begin…begin！
Where is she？〃
I hesitated for a moment about introducing this remarkable ambassador
into Lucilla's bedroom。 One look at him decided me。 After all； he was a
doctor；and such an ugly one！ I took his arm。
We went together into Lucilla's room。 She started up from the sofa on
which she was reclining when she heard the strange footsteps entering；
side by side with mine。
〃Who is it？〃 she cried。
〃It is me； my dears；〃 said Herr Grosse。 〃Ach； Gott！ what a pretty girls！
Here is jost the complexions I like…nice…fair！ nice…fair！ I am come to
see what I can do； my pretty Miss； for this eyes of yours。 If I can let
the light in on youhey！ you will lofe me； won't you？ You will kees even
an ugly Germans like me。 Soh！ Come under my arm。 We will go back into the
odder rooms。 There is anodder one waiting to let the light in tooMr。
Sebrights。 Two surgeon…optic to one pretty MissEnglish surgeon…optic；
German surgeon…optichey！ between us we shall cure this nice girls。
Madame Pratolungo； here is my odder arms at your service。 Hey！ what？ You
look at my coatsleeve。 He is shabby…greasyI am ashamed of him。 No
matter。 You have got Mr。 Sebrights to look at in the odder rooms。 He is
spick…span； beautiful…new。 Come！ Forwards！ Marsch！〃
Nugent； waiting in the corridor； threw the door open for us。 〃Isn't he
delightful？〃 Nugent whispered behind me； pointing to his friend。 Escorted
by Herr Grosse； we made a magnificent entry into the room。 Our German
doctor had done Lucilla good already。 The examination was relieved of all
its embarrassments and its terrors at the outset。 Herr Grosse had made
her laughHerr Grosse had set her completely at her ease。
Mr。 Sebright and Oscar were talking together in a perfectly friendly way
when we returned to the sitting…room。 The reserved Englishman appeared to
have his attraction for the shy Oscar。 Even Mr。 Sebright was struck by
Lucilla； his cold face lit up with interest when he was presented to her。
He placed a chair for her in front of the window。 There was a warmth in
his tone which I had not heard yet； when he