“The what?”
“The ar-ti-cle de Pa-ris.”
“Oh! yes, the arnticle of Pahrriss.”
“Exactly so. Excuse my pronunciation.”
This floored him.
“Rather impertinent, your smoke-room neighbor!” you will say.
Undeceive yourself at once upon that point. It is not impertinence, still less an intention to offend you, that urges him to put these incongruous questions to you. It is the interest he takes in you. The American is a good fellow; good fellowship is one of his chief characteristic traits. Of that I became perfectly convinced during my last visit to the United States.