Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 2 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/549

THE AMERICAN At this M. Nioche decided to change his attitude. He stooped and picked up the pug, lifted it to his face and wiped his eyes on its little soft back. "I'm afraid to speak to you," he presently said, looking over the puppy's shoulder. "I hoped you would n't notice me. I should have moved away, but I was afraid that if I moved it would strike you. So I sat very still."

"I suspect you've a bad conscience, sir," Newman pronounced.

The old man put down the little dog and held it carefully in his lap. Then he shook his head, his eyes still watering and pleading. "No, Mr. Newman, I 've a good conscience," he weakly wailed.

"Then why should you want to slink away from me?"

"Because—because you don't understand my position."

"Oh, I think you once explained it to me," said Newman. "But it seems improved."

"Improved!" his companion quavered. "Do you call this improvement?" And he ruefully embraced the treasures in his arms.

"Why, you're on your travels," Newman rejoined. "A visit to London in the Season is certainly a sign of prosperity."

M. Nioche, in answer to this superior dig, lifted the puppy up to his face again, peering at his critic from his small blank eye-holes. There was something inane in the movement, and Newman hardly knew if he were taking refuge in an affected failure of reason or whether he had in fact paid for his base 519