"A little of cheese, then? and some Albert biscuits? And a bottle or two
of lemonade, and one of light wine?"

"But yes, without doubt; monsieur shall have these instantly;" and a
bright-faced little girl proceeds to collect the supplies.

"Might one carry away the bottles, and afterward return them?" we
venture.

Here the madame begins to appear suspicious. It is evidently an
irregular purchase at best, and this request seems to make her a trifle
frosty.

"A deposit should perhaps be necessary," we suggest; "how much is
desired?"

Madame gives the subject a moment's thought. "Monsieur would have to
leave at least four sous on each bottle," she finally declares.

"And could madame also lend us some small drinking-glasses, it may be,
and a little corkscrew?"

The old lady is visibly hardening. She is clearly averse to mysteries.
We may be contrabandists, or political exiles, or any variety of refugee
foreigners. She hesitates about the drinking-glasses; is not sure she
_has_ a corkscrew. But another deposit is soothingly arranged for and
paid, and the articles are found.

"And now could we ask to borrow a basket?--also on deposit."