“That is not the point. The point is that when I am here on leave I intend to eat all I can, see all I can, enjoy myself to the limit of my opportunities.”
Paulette lifted her eyebrows and gave her expressive shrug of the shoulders. “Your opportunities must be very few, monsieur, if the height of your enjoyment is in the society of an old peasant woman and a little girl.”
“Would you have me spend all my time in making new acquaintances? Is anything better than old friends? But you have not told me, Lucie, which you prefer, the walk through the Bois or the return trip on the river.”
Lucie looked down dubiously at her shoes now much the worse for wear. “If my shoes will stand it I should prefer the walk, but the soles have become very thin. You see the pair I had on when I left home gave out before we reached Paris, and these are now the only ones I have.”
“We will try to avoid the damp places, and if we come to any path too wet I can carry you over.”
“Monsieur!” exclaimed Paulette, quite scandalized.
“It would be quite easy for me, I can assure you,” responded Victor imperturbably. “After the load a soldier must become accustomed to, the burden of carrying Mademoiselle Lucie would be nothing.”
“Coquin!” cried Paulette, shaking her finger at him. “If any one must lift mademoiselle it will be I.”
“Then we must try to avoid the wet places,” returned Victor.
They turned into a street which led them to the Bois de Boulogne. Victor had provided himself with a little map which he consulted from time to time, but in spite of it they did wander a little from their route and actually did happen upon a moist by-path before which there was a discussion.