I had an amusing experience last year. After I had left a small villagein the south of France,I drove on to the next town. On the way,a youngman waved to me. I stopped and he asked me for a lift. As soon as he hadgot into the car,I said good morning to him in French and he replied in thesame language. Apart from a few words,I do not know any French at all.Neither of us spoke during the journey. I had nearly reached the town,whenthe young man suddenly said,very slowly,‘Do you speak English?’