“‘I beg pardon, Madame,’ began the Swiss.
“‘Cannot the bill—
“‘I am sorry, Mademoiselle,’ said the Swiss, and he looked desolated, with a contrary gleam in his eye.
“Here the man by my side dropped from the category of the gentleman to that of the cad.
“‘If Mademoiselle will allow me,’ he began eagerly.
“I leaned under the table, pretending to pick up a purse, which I really took from my pocket.
“‘I think this is your purse,’ I said in English.
“For an instant she scanned me. The Frenchman looked daggers. She was blushing.
“‘Thank you,’ said she, and I knew she was an American; ‘how stupid of me to have dropped it.’
“And from my purse she paid the bill, nodded to me, ignoring the Frenchman, and without further word left the buffet.