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 but this dear chap, Leyden … his blageur … it will be my death! What did you think of the 'rikishas?"

"We were delighted!" exclaimed Virginia.

"You have brought us into Japan!" cried Miss O'Connor. "I am sure that I must be dreaming. Are we really still in England, Count Dessalines?"

"It's the loveliest place that ever I saw!" said Kathleen.

"It is charming," replied Dessalines. "I confess that I hate to leave it, but when I do it will be to go home."

"To Africa?" queried Miss O'Connor.

"No," replied Dessalines shortly. "To Hayti."

"Oh, that is in the South Seas, is it not?" exclaimed Miss Kathleen, proud of her knowledge. "I had a schoolmate from there … a lovely French girl, but quite—quite—dark complexioned!" she ended, in a crumbling way.

"You are thinking of Tahiti, Miss O'Connor," said Dessalines, politely. "That is in the South Pacific and belongs to France. Hayti is in the West Indies and belongs to … Hayti!" he ended proudly. 108