Michel lowered his glass and raised an eyebrow at the man.
Gallic shrug? What on Earth...
Such arrogant assumptions and generalizations never sat well with Michel, and he found this man's condescension flat out maddening.
"Life is not a 'grand party', Herr Varner, the war and this occupation assure that much," he said quietly but firmly, "but I, and many of my countryman, see little reason to keep such things from completely ruining our lives. We must find our joy where we can, or there is little point to this. Life without joy is mere existence, Herr Varner, and to the French, mere existence is not enough."
He set the glass down on the table and rested his elbows on the arms of the chair, his hands falling into his lap.
"As I have said, I do not know what happenstances have bittered you to life, and I know how well the Germans like generalizing about the French, but do not confuse all French for a single one."