My next words were simply said for me, as it were, by my long habit of self-restraint.
"My presence is not in the question at all, to embarrass you," I said, curtly, and added to Howard—
"We may as well go on."
But that was not at all his view.
"Ask me," he said, with his shaky French accent; "I'll come!" and he put his hand on her arm, with a glance that matched her own. She seemed pretty well indifferent which of us it should be, and she merely said imperiously,—
"Come, then!" and with a grimace over her shoulder at me, disappeared into her brougham again.
Howard would have followed instantly, but I seized his arm.
"What are you doing?" I said in English. "Is it worth it, Howard? You may regret it. She is probably some married woman!"
Howard wrenched himself free from me.
"Don't talk to me! I'm not the fellow to refuse a jolly good lark when it's offered to me!"