The officer flushed angrily and looked at Josette. She nodded to him in a kindly way and said something to him in Italian. He flashed his teeth at her, scowled once more at Graham and stalked on.
She giggled. “You were really very unkind to that poor boy. He was getting on so nicely. Could you think of nothing better than a message from José?”
“I said the first thing that came into my head. I had to speak to you.”
She nodded approvingly. “That is very nice.” She looked at him slyly. “I was afraid that you would spend the night being angry with yourself because of last night. But you must not look so solemn. Madame Mathis is very interested in us.”
“I’m feeling solemn. Something has happened.”
The smile faded from her lips. “Something serious?”
“Something serious. I …”
She glanced over his shoulder. “It will be better if we walk up and down and look as if we are talking about the sea and the sun. Otherwise they will be gossiping. I do not care what people say, you understand. But it would be embarrassing.”
“Very well.” And then, as they began to walk: “When I got back to my cabin last night I found that my revolver had been stolen from my suitcase.”
She stopped. “This is true?”