"Thank you so much! Good-bye."
"Good-bye and good luck to you."
And after snapping his photograph I started on down the street in haste, for I could see George and Leon, who had gone on ahead, now running towards me.
"Vite, Madame. They need you!"
"Who?"
"The English. They can't make people understand."
I pressed forward, and came upon a crowd of gapers standing outside a shop. Within two English officers were arguing in their native tongue with an irate butcher, who waved one arm wildly in the air, and brandished a huge knife in the other, shouting frantically all the while,
"La' voila-la voila!" said George and Leon, almost dragging me forward, proud to exhibit my accomplishments. "La voila! Vous etes sauves."
My greatest desire was to turn about and run, but the crowd parted to let me through.
"Would you mind, Madame?" pleaded the lieutenant. "We need your assistance to make this man understand that we're drafting meat for the army. We'll pay cash, but be might just as well give it gracefully, for we have the right to force his ice box if he refuses."