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We think we can get along with French and that every educated personought to
know our language. I dont know any other Westerncivilized country where such a
silly system exists. On one occasion we came quite close to some shrubs and
were to hide.
At least I felt that at Mentone they could not have beennotified
yet. What had happened I never found out, but I felt I had had a closeshave. He
looked it over very carefully, trying to find a flaw, but therehappened to be
none.
We think we can get along with French and that every educated personought
to know our language. Death is great goodfortune compared to any of these
conditions.
Boththe Legion and the French regiment encamped with us were to
take partin the manoeuvre.
And I dontbelieve that dapper young man was doing
all his rushing work fornothing.
But, as the waiterhad said, I was there, and
they would not send a first-class passengerback. But he did not return in two
days, nor in three days, nor in fivedays.
I sent up a very courteous note
asking him if Imight speak to him as I could not come on week-days. The
driverswere insolent and most lordly.
To know what we were doing gave zest to
ourduty, and we were anxious to do our best. What had happened I never found
out, but I felt I had had a closeshave.
Whereas if I stayed in thetrain they
might think I had got out on the way and would arrivelater. Oh no, I am not
going that way, and off he drove. He did not say a word to the civilians,who
travelled second class on third-class tickets.
Acharock, the sergeant from
Bel-Abbès, was stationed here now with aFrench regiment. I spent
theinterminable wait at Marseilles in the toilet room also.
A big burly
brutal-looking man came into the drawing-room where I waswaiting. I sent up a
very courteous note asking him if Imight speak to him as I could not come on
week-days.
The Ambassador certainly would not, even ifhe could.
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