THE LADY FROM MAURITIUS
stranger merrily. "She has sent me to ask a so fonny question! It is zees: 'Haf you ze cat?' Is not zat droll! 'Haf you ze cat?'"
"Has she lost him already?" cried Owen in consternation. Next instant he could have bitten off his tongue. Suppose this joyful young woman had come from Borkman? Her next words, however, reassured him.
"No, no!" Her laugh was a mere delight. "Zat is a miss-take. You must pardon me. My home is not long in Singapore, but many years in Mauritius. I spik ze English tongue so ver' badly. But see. I vould not haf said—'Haf you ze cat?' I vould say 'Vill you ze cat?' Zat is it."
She handed him an open envelope.
"Here is Mrs. Hol-bo-row's letter. But I must ask you first, it sounded a so fonny question!"
Owen drew out the letter:
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