in her walls, every scratch on her doors she had care-
fully, if not always truthfully, noted; yet here she
was growing quite flustered and coy because of
Monsieur Kahn's ox-like eyes with their gentle, per-
suasive, yet appraising expression.
She said: 'Eh bien, Monsieur, I will admit that
I and my poor little business have suffered. However,
if the work is now nearly complete and Monsieur is
prepared to replace my bent gutter. . . .'
'There is nothing I am not prepared to replace for
you, chere Madame/ he assured her suavely.
'Ah, Monsieur is too good.3
cNot at all, chere Madame, my wish is that we
should be excellent neighbours.3 He sat down. "You
see how it is, Madame: I come here to the south
because of my throat — I unfortunately suffer from
tonsilitis. I come here as a stranger, so I go to Mar-
seille and instruct a good firm to send in careful
workmen; and I also employ a first class architect to
whom I repeat a great number of times: "No in-
convenience, if you please, to my neighbour; every-
thing must be done to allay the dust; to avoid all bad
smells when removing that privy; use strong disin-
fectant,3' I am careful to say. He ignores me — there
are smells but no disinfectant. For two months they
have idled; it is now September. Early in October
I must open my shop because I, like yourself, have to
work for my living.3 He paused, and she asked him:
'What will Monsieur sell — if that is not an indis-
creet question?9
'By no means, Madame,5 he replied with a smile,
'I propose to sell everything for the home — in Paris
I had a furnishing business. I think that Saint Loup
is a coming place, and that therefore it provides an
excellent opening.5 And he smiled again, gently
stroking his moustache. 'Yes,5 he repeated, *a most
excellent opening.5
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