Faintly, from the town, came the air of a band playing in the main square.
Howard said: 'You must not put yourselves to inconvenience on our account.
I assure you, we can get along very well.'
The girl said: 'But monsieur - your clothes alone - they are not in the French fashion.
One would say at once that you are an Englishman, to look at you.'
He glanced down ruefully; it was very true.
He had been proud of his taste in Harris tweeds, but now they were quite undeniably unsuitable for the occasion.
'I suppose so,' he said.
'It would be better if I got some French clothes, for a start.'
She said: 'My father would be glad to lend you an old suit, if he were here.'
She turned to her mother.
'The brown suit, Mother.'
Madame shook her head.
'The grey is better.
It is less conspicuous.'
She turned to the old man. 'Sit down again,' she said quietly.
'Nicole is right.
We must devise something.
Perhaps it will be better if you stay here for the night.'
He sat down again.
'That would be too much trouble for you,' he said.
'But I should be grateful for the clothes.'
Sheila came up to him again, fretful.
'Can't we go out now and look at the tanks, Mr Howard?' she said in English, complaining,
'I do want to go out.'
'Presently,' he said. He turned to the two women, speaking in French. 'They want to go out.'
The girl got to her feet.
'I will take them for a walk,' she said. 'You stay here and rest.'
After a little demur he agreed to this; he was very tired.
'One thing,' he said.
'Perhaps while you are out it would be possible for me to borrow an old razor?'
The girl led him to the bathroom and produced all that he needed.
'Have no fear for the little ones,' she said.
'I will not let them get into trouble.'
He turned to her, razor in hand.
'You must be very careful not to speak English, mademoiselle,' he said.
'The two English children understand and speak French very well.
Sometimes they speak English, but that is dangerous now.
Speak to them in French all the time.'
She laughed up at him.
'Have no fear, cher Monsieur Howard,' she said.
'I do not know any English.
Only a phrase or two.'
She thought for a minute, and said carefully, in English,
'A little bit of what you fancy does you good.' And then, in French again, 'That is what one says about the aperitif?'
'Yes,' he said.
He stared at her, puzzled again.
She did not notice.
'And to rebuke anybody,' she said, 'you "tear him off a strip".
That is all I know of English, monsieur.