“Very annoying.”
She sighed. “We could pass that week or ten days very nicely. I do not mean at the Hotel des Belges. That is a dirty place. But there is the Ritz Hotel and the Lancaster Hotel and the Georges Cinque.…” She paused and he knew that he was expected to say something.
He said it. “And the Crillon and the Meurice.”
She squeezed his arm. “You are very nice. But you understand me? An apartment is cheaper, but for so little time that is impossible. One cannot enjoy oneself in a cheap hotel. All the same I do not like extravagance. There are nice hotels for less than it costs at the Ritz or the Georges Cinque and one has more money to spend on eating and dancing at nice places. Even in war time there are nice places.” The burning end of her cigarette made an impatient gesture. “But I must not talk about money. You will make the old women at the Préfecture give you your permit too soon and then I shall be disappointed.”
He said: “You know, Josette, I shall begin in a minute to think that you are really serious.”
“And you think that I am not?” She was indignant.
“I’m quite sure of it.”
She burst out laughing. “You can be rude very politely. I shall tell José that. It will amuse him.”
“I don’t think I want to amuse José. Shall we go down?”
“Ah, you are angry! You think that I have been making a fool of you.”