CHAPTER II
Another Meeting
The next instant Nona recovered her poise. She was, however, both frightened and angry. Yet if it were possible to avoid it, she did not wish to raise an alarm nor create any kind of commotion upon the street.
At first quietly and firmly she attempted removing her arm, at the same time regarding the Frenchman with an expression of scorn and disapproval.
“Let me go at once,” she said, speaking excellent French, so there was no possibility of being misunderstood.
But the young man only shrugged his shoulders, looking, if she had but known it, more mischievous than wicked.
But Nona was now gazing despairingly about her. There were numbers of persons near by, stout mothers and fathers, the respectable tradespeople of Paris, with the usual French family of two children. Nona could, of course, appeal to any one of them. But just at the instant no one was sufficiently near to accost without raising her voice. This would, of course, attract public attention, which, if possible, Nona did not wish to do.
So she waited another second, hoping her tormentor would release her of his own accord. Finding he did not intend this, she glanced about for assistance a second time. Then she discovered two young officers passing within a few feet of her. One of them wore a British uniform and the other French.
Nona spoke quickly, knowing instinctively that the men were gentlemen.
“Stop a moment, please!” she asked. “I am a stranger and have lost my friends in the crowd. This man is annoying me.”
Then in spite of her efforts the girl’s voice shook with nervousness while her eyes filled with humiliated tears.