At la Tarasque they came on Eusebe dead drunk
but sleeping the blissful sleep of the unrighteous: 'Do
not let us sit near him, when he drinks he perspires,
and when he perspires he stinks/ said ^Eliana.
The rest of the tables were mostly taken by young-
sters on leave and bent upon frolic. One observed
^Eliana and promptly made eyes: 'Bon-vespre, ma
bello fadeto!5 he shouted.
She smiled at him, not ill-pleased it appeared.
'It were better to ignore them,3 cautioned Jan.
'And you, Christophe, what do you say?5 she asked.
Chfistophe glanced at his sun-tanned, muscular
arms: 'That I do not think they will molest you,5 he
answered.
She was thinking: 'He is only seventeen, yet so tall,
so strong — why will he not love me!3 And suddenly
her eyes filled with angry tears.
cMoun tout, ma bello!5 cried the youngster on leave,
lifting his glass with mock gallantry. ^Eliana shrugged
her shoulders and ignored him.
They sat down and Christophe ordered wine, but
when it arrived he drank it coupe. Jan did not,
preferring to drink his neat, which however he did
with a certain precaution. Neither of them could
dance it appeared, though the little violinist was in
excellent fettle. A nice couple of boobies to take a
girl out.
'But what can you do?5 she enquired peevishly.
'The Germans will very soon know!5 Jan informed
her.
uEliana looked bored: *I am tired of the war. Why
discuss the war when we came here for pleasure?5
Her cheeks were now faintly flushed, her eyes
brilliant, and taking the bottle she refilled her glass,
'Since no one has the good manners . . *5 she said
frowning. Presently she groped for Christophe's hand
and held it in hers but not for long; she dared not
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