"The Café on the Rue Martel was the second one within the 10th. arrondissement that Malek Bennabi had visited during the past week and as on the previous occasion his contact, Pierre, was already seated at one of the tables with feigned absent-mindedness toying with what was left of his coffee and Pain au chocolat. Without showing any sign of recognition Malek sauntered over to the table and gestured enquiringly towards one of the empty seats before sitting down and placing his canvas holdall under the table next to a similar one belonging to Pierre. Neither of them spoke and shortly after Malek had ordered and been served with his café noir, Pierre asked the waitress for l’addition, left eight euros in the saucer as payment and gratuity, rose from the table, picked up Malek’s holdall instead of his own, and without so much as a glance at Malek, nonchalantly walked out of the café . . . "
author