"'I am going to make coffee for everybody.'

"When that was drunk off, we had all of us to go. Besides, customers
turned up every minute.

"'Hey, la p'tite mere,' they cried, shoving their noses in at
the half-open window, 'let's have a coffee--or three--or four'--'and
two more again,' says another voice.

"We go up to Mariette to say good-by. They knew they had played
gooseberry that night most damnably, but I could see plainly that
they didn't know if it would be the thing to say something about it
or just let it drop altogether.

"Then the Bulgarian made up his mind: 'We've made a hell of a mess
of it for you, eh, ma p'tite dame?'

"He said that to show he'd been well brought up, the old sport.

"Mariette thanks him and offers him her hand--'That's nothing at
all, sir. I hope you'll enjoy your leave.'

"And me, I held her tight in my arms and kissed her as long as I
could--half a minute--discontented--my God, there was reason to
be--but glad that Mariette had not driven the boys out like dogs,
and I felt sure she liked me too for not doing it.

"'But that isn't all,' said one of the leave men, lifting the skirt
of his cape and fumbling in his coat pocket; 'that's not all. What
do we owe you for the coffees?'