"You are a marvellous courier," she declared, as they passed into the street. "You see, I will take your arm. It looks so French to be affectionate."
"There are some French customs," he declared, "which are admirable. I presume that I may not kiss you in the street?"
"Certainly not, sir," she replied, laughing. "If you attempted such a thing it would be in order that I should smack you hard with the palm of my hand upon the cheek."
"That is another French custom," he remarked, "which is not so agreeable. Here we are. Shall we sit outside and drink a _petit verre_ of something to give us an appetite while dinner is being prepared?"
"Certainly not," she answered. "I am already so hungry that I shall begin on the _petit pains_. I have an appetite which I dare not increase."
They entered the place, a pleasant little café of the sort to be met with in the outlying parts of Paris. Most of the tables were for those who smoked only and drank wine, but there were a few spread with tablecloths and laid for dinner. Sir John and Annabel seated themselves at one of them, and the proprietor himself, a small dark-visaged man, radiant with smiles, came hurrying up, followed by a waiter.
"Monsieur would dine! It was very good! And Madame, of course?" with a low bow. The _carte de jour_ was before Monsieur. He had but to give his orders. Monsieur could rely upon his special attention, and for the cooking--well, he had his customers, who came from their homes to him year after year. And always they were well satisfied. He waited the pleasure of Monsieur.
Sir John gave his order, deliberately stumbling now and then over a word, and anglicizing others. When he had finished he took up the wine list and ordered a bottle of dry champagne.
"I am afraid," he said to Anna afterwards, "that it was a mistake to order the champagne sec. They will guess that I am English."
Annabel leaned back in her chair and laughed till the tears stood in her eyes.
"Did you--did you really think that they would take you for a Frenchman?" she exclaimed.
"I don't see why not," he answered. "These clothes are French, and I'm sure this floppy bow would make a Frenchman of me anyhow. Perhaps I ought to have let you order the dinner, but I think I got through it pretty well."