Page:1880. A Tramp Abroad.djvu/562

 brought them out and tried to force them into my hands, saying,—

"Ah, but only see how lovely they are! Surely monsieur will take them; monsieur shall have them for 30 francs. There, I have said it—it is a loss, but one must live."

I dropped my hands, and tried to move her to respect my unprotected situation. But no, she dangled the beads in the sun before my face, exclaiming, "Ah, monsieur cannot resist them!" She hung them on my coat button, folded her hands resignedly, and said, "Gone,—and for 30 francs, the lovely things—it is incredible!—but the good God will sanctify the sacrifice to me."

I removed them gently, returned them, and walked away,



shaking my head and smiling a smile of silly embarrassment while the passers-by halted to observe. The woman leaned out of her door, shook the beads, and screamed after me,—

"Monsieur shall have them for 28!"