ISLAM

SLAVES OF THE SEX 177
of spurs of someone walking behind me ;
I
should not have noticed this had I not halted
under a lamp to pull on my hood, which the
wind had blown of ... The street being deserted,
I was unable to endure it any longer I
;
turned
round and there was the officer . . . He saluted
me and asked me in a curious Belgian French
if he might accompany me home, I said: "Oh
certainly." But I am not at all nervous in the
dark."
As they walked along together, this unknown
officer and this future wife of a British Prime Minister,
the following conversation occurred between them :
Officer: "You would not like me to go and have
supper with me in the private room of the
hotel, no ?
Mar got: "You are very kind, but I don't like
supper besides it is too late."
;
(Leaving his side to
look at the number of the door) "I am afraid we
must part here."
Officer (drawing a long breath) : "But you said
I might accompany you to your home !"
Margot (with a smile)
: "I know I did ; but this
is my home !"
He looked disappointed and surprised, but taking
my hand kissed it, then, stepping back, saluted, and
said "Pardonney-moi, mademoiselle." (Pardon me.
:
Madam
!
)
What we want to emphasise in
connection with
these incidents is not to criticize or lay any blame at
11