"When the hanoum, your mother, goes away again, will she not let you come and stay with me, if I send word I will be responsible for your neck?"
Thus it came about that whenever my mother went off for a week-end, I found myself the guest of my Lady of the Fountain, and slept in the little room off hers. During one of these visits, she came in at night, and sat down near my bed.
"When you go to Paris this time, some one will accompany you," she said.
"No, I am going alone."
She shook her head. "No, no, you will have some one with you, for I am going with you."
I was amazed to the point of speechlessness. When I regained my tongue I exclaimed:
"You know perfectly well that the government will never permit it."
"Yes. That is why I shall not ask the government. I have always wanted to see the world, and especially Paris. I never saw how I could do it till you fell into my garden—and I know that I can trust you."
"But how will you manage it?"
"I shall be your companion."
"You can't, you speak neither Greek nor French. Every one will guess you are Turkish."
"I can be an Armenian, and as for French I am going to learn it. We have time. You can teach me."
