Parisians, the — Volume 04 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
page 47 of 67 (70%)
page 47 of 67 (70%)
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This speech rendered literally as we now render it may give the idea of a somewhat vulgar speaker. But there was something in the man's manner, in his smile, in his courtesy, which did not strike Graham as vulgar; on the contrary, he thought within himself, "How instinctive to all Frenchmen good breeding is!" Before, however, Graham had time to explain to his amiable neighbour the politico-economical principle according to which England, growing no tobacco, had tobacco much better than France, which did grow it, a rosy middle-aged monsieur made his appearance, saying hurriedly to Graham's neighbour, "I'm afraid I'm late, but there is still a good half-hour before us if you will give me my revenge." "Willingly, Monsieur Georges. _Garcon_, the dominos." "Have you been playing at billiards?" asked M. Georges. "Yes, two games." "With success?" "I won the first, and lost the second through the defect of my eyesight; the game depended on a stroke which would have been easy to an infant,-- I missed it." Here the dominos arrived, and M. Georges began shuffling them; the other turned to Graham and asked politely if he understood the game. "A little, but not enough to comprehend why it is said to require so much |
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