OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

56 MAINLY MAIGRET
" Do you think it's safe? To tell the truth, I'm beginning to get
the wind up.. .."
But Jacqueline was amenable; finally she agreed to do whatever
Sylvie wanted. A bell tinkled; the first customers of the night were
arriving. The two girls gave hasty glances at their faces in the
mirror atfttkback of the bar, then swung themselves on to stools.
The young man's eyes still hung on Sylvie, wistfully imploring.
VI
IT was the third night. The meal had just ended and the young men
were talking at the top of their voices, when Elie, who had watched
Domb lighting a cigarette, took advantage of a lull to remark :
" I dare say you think that tobacco you're smoking comes from
Egypt?"
" Of course it does. I suppose you're going to tell us that it comes
from Turkey." Domb had no use for chauvinism—in others.
" That's just where it does come from. For one thing, there's a
law forbidding tobacco-growing in Egypt. I've lived there, so I
ought to know, and what's more, my father was one of the leading
exporters of oriental tobaccos."
Domb held his peace, and stared sulkily at his plate. It was the
third meal during which most of the conversation had turned on
Turkey, and he preferred not to give Elie another opportunity of
showing off.
But Madame Baron, who had an enquiring mind, asked from the
end of the table:
" Didn't you take over your father's^business? "
" At the time when I might have done so I was all out for a good
time. Travelling about the world. I used to spend the summer in
the mountains, in the Tyrol or the Caucasus, and winter in the
Crimea or on the Riviera."
" You're an only child, aren't you? "
" No, I've a sister."
" Silly of me to ask! I remember now; you told me you'd a
sister. Is your father dead? "
" He lost nearly all his money speculating, and I rather think