“Paris, Sir. Well, I were born in Montfermiel. It is just outside Paris proper. But most of my life is Paris herself. You have heard of her, no? So many here have not heard of Paris. But then, I don’t know nowhere save London or America. I should have liked to have gone there but… but I would’ve been dead before the new year if I hadn’t come here.”

She stops, suddenly awkward. People don’t like to hear about stuff like that. People don’t want to know. She knows that. Pink flushes on her cheeks.

“Sorry. I ought not to talk on that.”