When she turned again, she shivered once more. She did not look up but went on crumbling bread. It shocked me to notice that the pink of her sea-shell face had gone and that her fingers trembled. Then a wild conjecture danced through my brain and I forgot my tambourine.
"You still here?" laughed the young man. "What are you waiting for?"
I started. "I beg your pardon, Sir," said I moving away. He laughed and called me back.
"Here are two francs to buy a philosophy book."
"And here are five sous not to come and worry us again," said the older man in French. While I was wondering why they tolerated such a disagreeable man in the party my beautiful lady's fingers flew to the gilt chain purse by her side. "And here are five francs because you are English!" she exclaimed; and as she held me for a second with her eyes I saw in them infinite depths of sadness and longing.
When I returned to the platform the piece had just been brought to an end. Paragot poured his second brandy down his throat and sat with his head in his hands. I shed, as usual, my takings into Blanquette's lap. On seeing the five-franc piece her eyes equalled it in size.
"Tiens! Cent sous! who gave it you?"
I explained. The most beautiful lady in the world. Paragot raised his head and looked at me haggardly.
"Why did she give you five francs?"
"Because I was English, she said."