Inside the Lines

Inside the Lines by Earl Derr Biggers follows the life of a young businesswoman during the First World War. Excerpt: «I had two trunks—two, you ninny! Two! Ou est l'autre?» The grinning customs guard lifted his shoulders to his ears and spread out his palms. «Mais, mamselle–» «Don't you 'mais' me, sir! I had two trunks—deux troncs—when I got aboard that wabbly old boat at Dover this morning, and I'm not going to budge from this wharf until I find the other one. Where did you learn your French, anyway? Can't you understand when I speak your language?»