“Kopeikin exaggerates-just as he exaggerated when he said that we should not hinder you and your partner in your packing. I hope you have a pleasant journey.”
“It has been so good to meet you. It was so kind of you, Kopeikin, to bring Mr. Graham to see me.”
“It was his idea,” said Kopeikin. “Good-bye, my dear Josette, and bon voyage. We should like to stay, but it is late, and I insisted on Mr. Graham’s getting some sleep. He would stay talking until he missed the train if I permitted it.”
She laughed. “You are very nice, Kopeikin. When I come next to Istanbul, I shall tell you first. Au ’voir, Mr. Graham, and bon voyage.” She held out her hand.
“The Hotel des Belges near Trinité,” he said: “I shall remember.” He spoke very little less than the truth. During the ten minutes that his taxi would take to get from the Gare de l’Est to the Gare St. Lazare, he probably would remember.
She pressed his fingers gently. “I’m sure you will,” she said. “Au ‘voir, Kopeikin. You know the way?”
“I think,” said Kopeikin, as they waited for their bill, “I think that I am a little disappointed in you, my dear fellow. You made an excellent impression. She was yours for the asking. You had only to ask her the time of her train.”
“I am quite sure that I made no impression at all. Frankly, she embarrassed me. I don’t understand women of that sort.”
“That sort of woman, as you put it, likes a man who is embarrassed by her. Your diffidence was charming.”
“Heavens! Anyway, I said that I would see her in Paris.”