I might have misunderstood you in some important matter." "I see, I see," he said conciliatorily.

"Yesterday we spoke English for the benefit of the British public.

When we speak French we are not in public, I hope." He had a semi-supplicating manner.
"Everything's rather too much in public here," I answered.

My part as I imagined it was that of a British brother defending his sister from questionable attentions--the person who "tries to show the man he isn't wanted." But de Mersch didn't see the matter in that light at all.

He could not, of course.