Page:The Plutocrat (1927).pdf/157

 "At that," Tinker returned affably, "I bet you wouldn't make as many as I would in French, if I ever tried to talk it much. I expect if I'd had to wait to learn French I'd never 'a' started for Europe at all, and I expect it was about the same with these boys here, too." Thus he generously shared his linguistic defects with the three young men, who were sitting somewhat rigidly in their chairs and showed no enthusiasm for his reference to them—though one of them was relieved to hear Europe and not Africa mentioned as the Midlander's destination. Ogle had feared that the Tinkers might intend to land at Algiers instead of continuing with the ship to the Italian ports whither most of the passengers were bound; and, although he understood that the French possessions in North Africa were extensive, his prejudice had now become such that he began to feel the need of a spaciousness more than Continental to contain him and the Tinker family at the same time, with any pleasure to himself.

Now that a prospect of eventual relief was before him, however, he relaxed enough to say: "I should hesitate, myself, to speak French in Madame Momoro's presence—and even English!"

She gave him a little bow, and explained to Tinker: