288 ALONGSHORE v 



talk to the drooping man, but, on account of the 

 quid of tobacco which filled up his mouth, I could 

 not understand one mumbled word in six; and his 

 deafness, also from fever in Martinique, prevented 

 him from hearing more than one sentence in three 

 of my French — d'lm Anglais hien instruit. We 

 had therefore to treat one another avec la plus 

 haute consideration — and more beer. They made 

 the mechanical piano play 'God save the King,' 

 and we put several pennies into the slot for 

 the 'Marseillaise,' to which we doffed our caps. 

 The farewells were affecting. Vive I'entente 

 cordiale! 



Later in the afternoon, from the hotel window, 

 we saw the drooping man supporting the Irish- 

 Frenchman across the Pont Marguet. 'Lookse!' 

 cried Jim. 'Lookse! Who'd ever have thought 

 thic washy French beer would have made 'en 

 like that there? Must have weak heads here- 

 about. ' 



And, later still, we fell across the drooping man 

 alone. He was sadder than ever, and most re- 

 proachful. He shifted his quid, but all of his 

 mumblings I could catch was, 'Est tres malade! 

 Very, very ill !' 



Next day, on our way to the boat, two porters 



