This hein? was a note of interrogation intended to draw from me contradiction or objection. However, I only said⁠—“ Cela ne me regarde pas: je ne m’en soucie pas; ” 191 and presently added⁠—“May I go, Monsieur? They have rung the bell for the second ‘ déjeuner ’ ” ( i.e. luncheon).

“What of that? You are not hungry?”

“Indeed I was,” I said; “I had had nothing since breakfast, at seven, and should have nothing till dinner, at five, if I missed this bell.”

“Well, he was in the same plight, but I might share with him.”