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escape。〃
I promised Paul to do all I could to bring about a conversation； and when
we had taken our places again； I politely asked our neighbor：
〃Have you any objection to the smell of tobacco； madame？〃
She merely replied； 〃Non capisco。〃
So she was an Italian！ I felt an absurd inclination to laugh。 As Paul
did not understand a word of that language； I was obliged to act as his
interpreter； so I said in Italian：
〃I asked you； madame； whether you had any objection to tobacco smoke？〃
With an angry look she replied； 〃Che mi fa！〃
She had neither turned her head nor looked at me； and I really did not
know whether to take this 〃What do I care〃 for an authorization； a
refusal； a real sign of indifference； or for a mere 〃Let me alone。〃
〃Madame；〃 I replied； 〃if you mind the smell of tobacco in the least〃
She again said； 〃Mica；〃 in a tone which seemed to mean； 〃I wish to
goodness you would leave me alone！〃 It was； however； a kind of
permission； so I said to Paul：
〃You may smoke。〃
He looked at me in that curious sort of way that people have when they
try to understand others who are talking in a strange language before
them； and asked me：
〃What did you say to her？〃
〃I asked whether we might smoke； and she said we might do whatever we
liked。〃
Whereupon I lighted my cigar。
〃Did she say anything more？〃
〃If you had counted her words you would have noticed that she used
exactly six； two of which gave me to understand that she knew no French；
so four remained； and much can be said in four words。〃
Paul seemed quite unhappy； disappointed； and at sea； so to speak。
But suddenly the Italian asked me； in that tone of discontent which
seemed habitual to her； 〃Do you know at what time we shall get to Genoa？〃
〃At eleven o'clock；〃 I replied。 Then after a moment I went on：
〃My friend and I are also going to Genoa； and if we can be of any service
to you； we shall be very happy； as you are quite alone。〃 But she
interrupted with such a 〃Mica！〃 that I did not venture on another word。
〃What did she say？〃 Paul asked。
〃She said she thought you were charming。〃
But he was in no humor for joking； and begged me dryly not to make fun of
him； so I translated her question and my polite offer； which had been so
rudely rejected。
Then he really became as restless as a caged squirrel。
〃If we only knew；〃 he said； 〃what hotel she was going to； we would go to
the same。 Try to find out so as to have another opportunity to make her
talk。〃
It was not particularly easy； and I did not know what pretext to invent；
desirous as I was to make the acquaintance of this unapproachable person。
We passed Nice； Monaco； Mentone； and the train stopped at the frontier
for the examination of luggage。
Although I hate those ill…bred people who breakfast and dine in railway…
carriages； I went and bought a quantity of good things to make one last
attack on her by their means。 I felt sure that this girl must；
ordinarily； be by no means inaccessible。 Something had put her out and
made her irritable； but very little would suffice； a mere word or some
agreeable offer； to decide her and vanquish her。
We started again； and we three were still alone。 I spread my eatables on
the seat。 I cut up the fowl； put the slices of ham neatly on a piece of
paper； and then carefully laid out our dessert； strawberries； plums；
cherries and cakes； close to the girl。
When she saw that we were about to eat she took a piece of chocolate and
two little crisp cakes out of her pocket and began to munch them。
〃Ask her to have some of ours；〃 Paul said in a whisper。
〃That is exactly what I wish to do； but it is rather a difficult matter。〃
As she； however； glanced from time to time at our provisions； I felt sure
that she would still be hungry when she had finished what she had with
her； so； as soon as her frugal meal was over； I said to her：
〃It would be very kind of you if you would take some of this fruit。〃
Again she said 〃Mica！〃 but less crossly than before。
〃Well； then；〃 I said； 〃may I offer you a little wine？ I see you have not
drunk anything。 It is Italian wine； and as we are now in your own
country； we should be very pleased to see such a pretty Italian mouth
accept the offer of its French neighbors。〃
She shook her head slightly； evidently wishing to refuse； but very
desirous of accepting； and her mica this time was almost polite。 I took
the flask； which was covered with straw in the Italian fashion； and
filling the glass； I offered it to her。
〃Please drink it；〃 I said； 〃to bid us welcome to your country。〃
She took the glass with her usual look； and emptied it at a draught； like
a woman consumed with thirst； and then gave it back to me without even
saying 〃Thank you。〃
I then offered her the cherries。 〃Please take some；〃 I said； 〃we shall
be so glad if you will。〃
Out of her corner she looked at all the fruit spread out beside her； and
said so rapidly that I could scarcely follow her： 〃A me non piacciono ne
le ciriegie ne le susine； amo soltano le fragole。〃
〃What does she say？〃 Paul asked。
〃That she does riot care for cherries or plums； but only for
strawberries。〃
I put a newspaper full of wild strawberries on her lap； and she ate them
quickly； tossing them into her mouth from some distance in a coquettish
and charming manner。
When she had finished the little red heap； which soon disappeared under
the rapid action of her hands； I asked her：
〃What may I offer you now？〃
〃I will take a little chicken；〃 she replied。
She certainly devoured half of it； tearing it to pieces with the rapid
movements of her jaws like some carnivorous animal。 Then she made up her
mind to have some cherries； which she 〃did not like；〃 and then some
plums； then some little cakes。 Then she said； 〃I have had enough；〃 and
sat back in her corner。
I was much amused； and tried to make her eat more； insisting； in fact；
till she suddenly flew into a rage； and flung such a furious mica at me；
that I would no longer run the risk of spoiling her digestion。
I turned to my friend。 〃My poor Paul；〃 I said； 〃I am afraid we have had
our trouble for nothing。〃
The night came on； one of those hot summer nights which extend their warm
shade over the burning and exhausted earth。 Here and there； in the
distance； by the sea； on capes and promontories； bright stars； which I
was； at times； almost inclined to confound with lighthouses； began to
shine on the dark horizon：
The scent of the orange trees became more penetrating； and we breathed
with delight； distending our lungs to inhale it more deeply。 The balmy
air was soft； delicious； almost divine。
Suddenly I noticed something like a shower of stars under the dense shade
of the trees along the line； where it was quite dark。 It might have been
taken for drops of light； leaping； flying； playing and running among the
leaves； or for small stars fallen from the skies in order to have an
excursion on the earth； but they were only fireflies dancing a strange
fiery ballet in the perfumed air。
One of them happened to come into our carriage； and shed its intermittent
light； which seemed to be extingui