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‘Édouard!’
And then I spied Monsieur Arnault in the corner by the piano ‘Oh, Monsieur Arnault!’ I yelled, as I foughtup my skirts as I trod over the bodies and the upturned chairs He was sliding along a banquette, evidently hoping to make his way to the door ‘Two charcoal sketches! The wolanced at me and I mouthed the words: ‘You owe Édouard for two charcoal sketches’ I crouched, one hand raised to protect my head and used the other to pull the IOUs fro to avoid a shoe ‘Five francs for the two, it says here Yes?’
Behind us, so it
Monsieur Arnault’s eyes ith fear He peered swiftly behind me, then scrabbled in his pocket for his wallet He peeled off the notes with such haste that I discovered later he had given me two francs too many ‘Take it!’ he hissed, then bolted for the door, his hat pressed to his head
And there we had it Eleven – no, twelve francs Enough to keep us going
‘Édouard,’ I called again, scanning the room I could just ervainly at him, as Édouard held him by the shoulders I put my hand on his arotten I was there ‘I have the o’
He didn’t seeo now’ He dropped the er,about a chipped tooth I had hold of Édouard’s sleeve now, pulling hi h the men who had come in froht was about
‘Sophie!’ Édouard pulled reat arc before h for me to feel the disturbance it created in the air I cursed with fright, and blushed that my husband had heardair, onlookers gazing in at the s, through cupped hands, the distant sound of shouting and breaking glass in our ears I stopped by the e splinters of glass Beside us a bloodiedconteo and eat, then?’ I said, s up at the sky ‘I think it ain’
My husband pulled at his collar, then ran his hands through his hair, letting out a short breath ‘Yes,’ he said ‘Yes I’ It was not very ladylike’
He patted ’
I reached up to pull a wooden splinter from the shoulder of his coat, and flicked it away I kissed him And arm in arm alked briskly towards the Panthéon, the sound of the gendar over the Paris rooftops
I had s behind the rue Beauirls orked at La Feirls lined up on ed saucepans ooden spoons