Doubtless it was possible to travel thither, and live there when one arrived, without a knowledge of French; but he pictured all sorts of humiliating situations resulting from his ignorance.

Above everything he dreaded humiliation in Monica's sight; it would be intolerable to have her comparing him with men who spoke foreign languages, and were at home on the Continent.
Nevertheless, he wrote to his friend Newdick, and invited him to dine, solely for the purpose of talking over this question with him in private.

After dinner he broached the subject.

To his surprise, Newdick had ideas concerning Nice and Cannes and such places.

He had heard about them from the junior partner of his firm, a young gentleman who talked largely of his experiences abroad.
'An immoral lot there,' he said, smiling and shaking his head.