"Are you not using it?" he asked, coming close to her.
"Yes, but I can manage without it," she replied.
"How's that?"
"I really only need it to spell the French words correctly," she said, "and a French dictionary will do as well."
She knew that he was standing just at the back of her, and although she could not see his eyes, being afraid to turn round, she felt that he was reading over her shoulder.
"Ah, you're translating that letter from Dacca?" he said.
She was surprised that he knew about this letter which was to be kept a secret. Then she realized that he was questioning her, and that his request for a dictionary was only a pretext. Why did he need an English dictionary if he could not understand a word of English?
"Yes, monsieur," she said.
"Is the translation coming along all right?" he asked.
She felt that he was bending over her, that his eyes were fixed on what she had translated. Quickly she moved her paper, turning it so that he could only see it sideways.