Europe in The Mansion (Location)

On the eve of World War II, Charles Mallison travels to "Europe" with two Harvard classmates; the two decide to stay in Paris, but on his own Charles "sees a little of Europe on a bicycle" (230). He mentions "Britain, France, Italy," but emphasizes what he saw of the "composed and collective hysteria" in the face of coming events, including "too many soldiers" and the "Maginot Line" - the fortifications that the French built to defend themselves against a German invasion (231).