Jefferson, obedient to her superior wisdom, held out a five-franc piece, but the driver shrugged his shoulders disdainfully.  He saw that the moment had come to bluster so he descended from his box fully prepared to carry out his bluff.  He started in to abuse the two Americans whom in his ignorance he took for English.

“Ah, you sale Anglais!  You come to France to cheat the poor Frenchman.  You make me work all afternoon and then pay me nothing.  Not with this coco!  I know my rights and I’ll get them, too.”

All this was hurled at them in a patois French, almost unintelligible to Shirley, and wholly so to Jefferson.  All he knew was that the fellow’s attitude was becoming unbearably insolent and he stepped forward with a gleam in his eye that might have startled the man had he not been so busy shaking his fist at Shirley.  But she saw Jefferson’s movement and laid her hand on his arm.

“No, no, Mr. Ryder—­no scandal, please.  Look, people are beginning to come up!  Leave him to me.  I know how to manage him.”

With this the daughter of a United States Supreme Court judge proceeded to lay down the law to the representative of the most lazy and irresponsible class of men ever let loose in the streets of a civilised community.  Speaking with an air of authority, she said: 

“Now look here, my man, we have no time to bandy words here with you.  I took your cab at 3.30.  It is now 5.30.  That makes two hours.  The rate is two francs an hour, or four francs in all.  We offer you five francs, and this includes a franc pourboire.  If this settlement does not suit you we will get into your cab and you will drive us to the nearest police-station where the argument can be continued.”

The man’s jaw dropped.  He was obviously outclassed.  These foreigners knew the law as well as he did.  He had no desire to accept Shirley’s suggestion of a trip to the police-station, where he knew he would get little sympathy, so, grumbling and giving vent under his breath to a volley of strange oaths, he grabbed viciously at the five-franc piece Jefferson held out and, mounting his box, drove off.

Proud of their victory, they entered the gardens, following the sweet-scented paths until they came to where the music was.  The band of an infantry regiment was playing, and a large crowd had gathered.  Many people were sitting on the chairs provided for visitors for the modest fee of two sous; others were promenading round and round a great circle having the musicians in its centre.  The dense foliage of the trees overhead afforded a perfect shelter from the hot rays of the sun, and the place was so inviting and interesting, so cool and so full of sweet perfumes and sounds, appealing to and satisfying the senses, that Shirley wished they had more time to spend there.  She was very fond of a good brass band, especially when heard in the open air.  They were playing Strauss’s Blue Danube, and the familiar strains of the delightful waltz were so infectious that both were seized by a desire to get up and dance.