So, in better French than was at Jefferson's command, she exclaimed: "Ten francs?
_Pourquoi dix francs ?_ I took your cab by the hour.
It is exactly two hours.

That makes four francs." Then to Jefferson she added: "Give him a franc for a _pourboire_--that makes five francs altogether." Jefferson, obedient to her superior wisdom, held out a five-franc piece, but the driver shrugged his shoulders disdainfully.

He saw that the moment had come to bluster so he descended from his box fully prepared to carry out his bluff.

He started in to abuse the two Americans whom in his ignorance he took for English.
"Ah, you _sale Anglais_! You come to France to cheat the poor Frenchman.

You make me work all afternoon and then pay me nothing.
Not with this coco! I know my rights and I'll get them, too." All this was hurled at them in a patois French, almost unintelligible to Shirley, and wholly so to Jefferson.