"We are very pleased."
The "gouverneur" bowed and made, no doubt, what was a suitable response; but as we could only attack single words we were no wiser. There was a pause while X collected the words for another.
"Beautiful country," she attempted.
The "gouverneur" bowed very gravely.
"I hope I have said that," said X nervously, "he looks rather shocked."
At that moment Constantin appeared with coffee and cigarettes, which gave us time to recover.
"I should not bother to talk to him," I said. "That is the best of these people—they understand how to sit happily in silence, just looking at you."
But X determined to make another try; it was good practice.
"Health good?" she said.
The "gouverneur" turned to his companion and said a few words in Turkish. The young man looked rather terrified, and began to speak to us in what sounded like gibberish. Constantin came to take the cups away.