A.N EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR. 
405 
eral! Monsieur General! was all she could say—“ duel jolie 
ville, Tantura ! duel hotel Parisien ! Oh, Mon Dieu !’ and 
throwing up her hands, she sank down again upon the bag¬ 
gage in the most graceful manner. I verily believe if it 
were the fate of the Madam to he seized by a Royal Bengal 
tiger she would melt him by her politeness, or die gracefully 
in his teeth. 
Doctor Mendoza’s skin was greener than ever ; that is to 
say, the green predominated, but there were yellow spots, and 
red and black spots all over his face, which gave some 
variety of color to his features. There was but little variety 
in the expression, however, for it was that of unmitigated dis¬ 
gust for Tantura and its accommodations. The corners of 
his mouth almost tied themselves in a knot under his chin, 
and his under lip formed a perfect representation of a piece 
of beef-steak thoroughly saturated with water. 
“ Good-morning, Doctor,” said I; “ how did you pass the 
night ?” 
“ No pass de night !” replied the Doctor gloomily, “ ’tis im- 
poss to sleep. Very bad place dis. Hotel are not good in 
Tantura. Very bad hotel. De Madam is indispose. He 
shall have pleasure to arrive at Beirut. Very good hotel in 
Beirut. I no like dis country. Tis interess for the ruin, but 
I no like the ruin for sleep in, cos ’tis imposs to sleep. Very 
much pulce for bite. No get much to eat here; no much 
flesh on the Arab for manger. ’Tis necess for eat de traveler. 
I shall be tres contents to leave Tantura—’Tis imposs to re¬ 
main here.” 
I really felt very sorry for the Doctor; he looked so green 
and dejected, so utterly incapable of enjoying misery, so 
wrapt up in that single idea of a comfortable hotel, that I 
declare upon my honor had it been in my power I would have 
built a hotel on the spot, and given him the very best room 
in it. There was no help for him, however ; and expressing 
my sympathy for his unhappy condition, I returned into the 
hut to dispatch a hasty cup of coffee before starting upon our 
journey. 
Yusef had prepared a good breakfast of stewed chicken and 
