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Page 138
breakdown by refusing one first-class hotel after another. She gave various excusesone was too modern, a second too noisy, a third too crowdedbut the true reason for her rejections was that her jet-set friends frequented those hotels. Eventually, dignified, old-fashioned places that Linda felt would not appeal to her crowd were found. Now all she had to worry about were chance meetings in shops or restaurants.
Linda gave an absent-minded "yes" to the General's question about another drink and considered expedients. "Do you think Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Sotheby will do much shopping in Paris?" she asked.
General Barthemeles's laugh boomed again. "I can assure you that Harriet will," he replied. "She has a list as long as your arm from Rose-Anne. And Emmeline hasn't been to Paris for yearsnot since poor Edward got sick."
"I hope I'll be able to get them into the shops early, before they get crowded," Linda said.
"Shouldn't think you'll have any trouble there. Old folk don't sleep all that long and, in a strange bed, I shouldn't think all that well. They'll be glad to be out early."
"And I hope to be able to convince Mrs. Bates to rest in the afternoon," Linda mused, half to herself.
"Yes, indeed," General Barthemeles agreed with rather surprising heartiness. "It would be an excellent idea for Emmeline to rest in the afternoon."

 
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