Chapter 32

He knitted his brows; pulled himself together for a crowning effort. Patrine spoke, not as a stranger yielding to a sudden, helpful impulse, but quite simply, with a little, joyful catching of her breath: "Could I explain for you, do you suppose?" "A--thanks! You're awfully good!" He turned to her eagerly, if with a certain embarrassment. "If you would.... There is a man here I have to get word to. And--what French I have is simply technical.... You hardly find it in modern dictionaries--the argot of the engine-…