"Would you like to give him half a franc?" I said to my wife. She would, very much. In a moment the two were in conversation.
"Why do you give me this?" said the old man, looking down at the coin in his hand.
"Because we saw you having déjeuner yesterday, and were interested. This is for to-day."
"It is much for one who is poor. Are you French?"
"No, English."
"All the English are rich. Are you selling things here?"
"No: I am making pictures for a book my husband is writing."
"Ah! you gain much by that?"
"Not very much. But we like it: we did a book on Provence once."
"Ah Provence. I know Provence. I am from the Basses Alpes. I like Provence very much; you get such good wine there."