Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 2 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/51

 right up. I never required nor received any instruction."

"You speak it then as easily as English?"

"Easier! said Mr. Tristram roundly. "It's a splendid language. You can say all sorts of gay things in it."

"But I suppose," said Christopher Newman with an earnest desire for information, "that you must be pretty gay to begin with."

"Not a bit: that's just the beauty of it!"

The two friends, as they exchanged these remarks, which dropped from them without a pause, had remained standing where they met and leaning against the rail which protected the pictures. Mr. Tristram at last declared that he was overcome with lassitude and should be happy to sit down. Newman recommended in the highest terms the great divan on which he had been lounging, and they prepared to seat themselves. "This is a great place, is n't it?" he broke out with enthusiasm.

"Great place, great place. Finest thing in the world." And then suddenly Mr. Tristram hesitated and looked about. "I suppose they won't let you smoke?"

Newman stared. "Smoke? I'm sure I don't know. You know the regulations better than I."

"I? I never was here before."

"Never! all your six years?"

"I believe my wife dragged me here once when we first came to Paris, but I never found my way back."

"But you say you know Paris so well!"

"I don't call this Paris!" cried Mr. Tristram with 21