“If you don’t mind, I’d sooner leave it until to-morrow. I’m rather tired to-night. In fact, I think that if you will excuse me I shall get to bed now.”
“So soon!” Josette pouted, and broke into English. “There is only one interesting person on the boat, and he goes to bed. It is too bad. Ah yes, you are being very bad. Why did you sit next to that German at dinner?”
“He did not object to my sitting beside him. Why should I object? He is a very pleasant and intelligent old fellow.”
“He is a German. For you no German should be pleasant or intelligent. It is as the French people were saying. The English are not serious about these things.”
José turned suddenly on his heel. “It is very boring to listen to English,” he said, “and I am cold. I shall go and drink some brandy.”
Graham was beginning to apologise when the girl cut him short. “He is very unpleasant to-day. It is because he is disappointed. He thought there were going to be some pretty little girls for him to roll his eyes at. He always has a great success with pretty little girls-and old women.”
She had spoken loudly, and in French. José, who had reached the top of the companionway, turned and belched deliberately before descending.
“He is gone,” said Josette. “I am glad. He has very bad manners.” She drew in her breath, and looked up at the clouds. “It is a lovely night. I do not see why you wish to go to bed. It is early.”
“I’m very tired.”
“You cannot be too tired to walk across the deck with me.”