Second-hand Knowledge

The Yelo water bus docked at Pointe des Minimes. Baby Pierre, who had not bought a ticket, hid under his seat in order to disembark last.

He was just about to roll up the gangplank when he spied Gaius and Margaret at the top.

Oh joy! Here were his friends. He decided to stay on the Yelo and give them a happy surprise.

Gaius and Margaret boarded the Yelo and sat down. They were arguing. Perhaps it was not the right time to pop out and surprise them, thought Baby Pierre.

How do you think I wrote informative books without first-hand knowledge? said Gaius, testily.

Everyone knows you got most of your information from books, said Margaret.

And hearsay, said Gaius. Travellers' tales. I certainly call that first-hand knowledge.

I call that second-hand knowledge, said Margaret.

And from books? said Gaius.

That too, said Margaret.

You have fallen into a trap there, said Gaius. Now you are saying books are second-hand knowledge.

Let's see what Ouvert has to say, said Margaret, rummaging about in her bag.

I have not the slightest interest in what Ouvert thinks about it, said Gaius. He is hardly an intellectual giant. I don't imagine he has read many books.

I'm reading one now! squeaked Ouvert, emerging from A Room With A View with a damp page of the Princesse de Babylone stuck to his bottom.

Baby Pierre couldn't believe his eyes.

A usurper! Another stone in his place, reading his Princesse de Babylone! And what was even worse, this Ouvert appeared to have torn it!

Baby Pierre remained under the seat until the Yelo reached La Rochelle, and then a bit longer.

When everyone else had got off, he disembarked sadly.