"I want nothing of you but a few grapes, and for them I will pay." And I held out to him a couple of francs.

He rose from the dust, still trembling and eying me askance with evident suspicion, took several bunches of the purple fruit, and gave them to me without saying a word.

Then, pocketing the money I proffered, he sprung into his cart, and lashing his pony till the unfortunate animal plunged and reared with pain and fury, rattled off down the road at such a break-neck speed that I saw nothing but a whirling blot of wheels disappearing in the distance.

I was amused at the absurdity of this man's terror.

What did he take me for, I wondered?
A ghost or a brigand?
I ate my grapes leisurely as I walked along--they were deliciously cool and refreshing--food and wine in one.