THE AMERICAN
Do you go dans le monde, as we say?"
"I've seen a good many people. Mrs. Tristram at least tells me I have. She has taken me about. I do whatever she bids me."
"By yourself then you're not fond of amusements?"
"Oh yes, of some sorts. I'm not fond of very fast rushing about, or of sitting up half the night; I'm too old and too heavy. But I want to be amused; I came to Europe for that."
She appeared to think a moment, and then with a smile: "But I thought one can be so much amused in America."
"I could n't; perhaps I was too much part of the show. That's never such fun, you know, for the animals themselves."
At this, moment young Madame de Bellegarde came back for another cup of tea, accompanied by Count Valentin. Madame de Cintré, when she had served her, began to talk again with Newman and recalled what he had last said. "In your own country you were very much occupied?"
"I was in active business. I've been in active business since I was fifteen years old."
"And what was your active business?" asked Madame de Bellegarde, who was decidedly not so pretty as Madame de Cintré.
"I've been in everything," said Newman. "At one time I sold leather; at one time I manufactured wash-tubs."
Madame de Bellegarde made a little grimace. "Leather? I don't like that. Wash-tubs are better. I prefer the smell of soap. I hope at least they made
123
