London?

A cease-fire was signed; the Germans paraded through the Champs Elysées and Bordeaux was swept by rumors about the new government. It would settle there, or in Algeria, or in Morocco... When it finally chose Vichy you felt relieved: you could tell Daddy your plans.



"Back to Paris? Are you out of your mind? he asked. You'll leave for Peru in no time. Next week. Pronto".

Nobody said a word.

Submarines! Sea mines! Tempests! Shark-infested waters! What kind of a father was he? A life of misery and churchgoing with Aunt Cristina and your three dumb cousins. You'd stick with the suffering, with de people, against fascism. No pasarán, carajo!

"Don't say profanities!"

"Ok, Ok, let's calm down here", said the Witch with that voice of hers. "Leo is right. It's dangerous and far. Doesn't your family still own that lovely flat in London? Where was it?"

"Chelsea", said Daddy flatly.

"You’d love it, Leo", said the Witch. "Artists, intellectuals, your kind of people!"

The more you liked the idea, the more you hated her…



Henry Garat and Meg Lemonier in "Un Soir de Refeillon" (1933). A Paramount film for French-speaking audiences, directed by Karl Anton. Monique is a working-class girl that scores a sexy Christmas night with a clique of sophisticated parisians.