Madam, Will You Talk?

"Madam, Will You Talk?" is a novel by Mary Stewart, first published in 1955. The title is a quote from a folk song, "Madam, Will You Walk?": "Madam, will you walk and talk with me?" is quoted at the start of Chapter 17.

Plot summary

Charity Selborne is on holiday in Provence with her friend, and former colleague, Louise. Before her marriage to Johnny Selborne they both taught at the same school in the West Midlands. Charity is now a widow, her husband's plane was shot down in France. She is staying at the same hotel as David Shelley and his step-mother Loraine Bristol. Mrs Bristol has taken David to France from England. David's father, Richard Byron, an antique dealer, who has been accused of murder, is pursuing his son across France.

Also staying at the hotel are John Marsden who is English and reads T. S. Eliot at breakfast and Paul Véry, who is French. Both have parts to play in subsequent events.