Her pretty lips pouted in a little gasp of astonishment as she leaned on her long parasol and looked at me.
"You are the oddest little freak I have come across for a long time."
I smiled happily. She could have called me anything opprobrious in that silvery voice of hers and I should have smiled. Now I come to think of it "smile" is the wrong word. The man smiles, the boy grins. I grinned happily.
"Has your master always played the violin in orchestras like this?"
"Oh, no, Mademoiselle," said I. "Of course not. He only began four days ago."
"What was his employment till then?"
"Why, none," said I.
It seemed absurd for Paragot to have employment like a man behind a shop-counter. I remembered acquaintances of my mother's who were "out of employment" and their unspeakable vileness. Then, echo of Paragot (for what else could I be?), I added: "We just walk about Europe for the sake of my education. My master said I was to learn Life from the Book of the Universe."
The lovely lady sat down.
"I believe you are nothing more nor less than an amazing little parrot. I'm sure you speak exactly like your master."