Page 126 - tender-is-the-night

out who, because she shot him through his identification
card.’ They were walking quickly from the train, swayed
along with the crowd. ‘I found out what poste de police
they’re taking her to so I’ll go there—‘
‘But her sister lives in Paris,’ Nicole objected. ‘Why not
phone her? Seems very peculiar nobody thought of that.
She’s married to a Frenchman, and he can do more than
we can.’
Dick hesitated, shook his head and started off.
‘Wait!’ Nicole cried after him. ‘That’s foolish—how can
you do any good—with your French?’
‘At least I’ll see they don’t do anything outrageous to
her.’
‘They’re certainly going to hold on to her,’ Nicole assured
him briskly. ‘She DID shoot the man. The best thing is to
phone right away to Laura—she can do more than we can.’
Dick was unconvinced—also he was showing off for
Rosemary.
‘You wait,’ said Nicole firmly, and hurried off to a tele-
phone booth.
‘When Nicole takes things into her hands,’ he said with
affectionate irony, ‘there is nothing more to be done.’
He saw Rosemary for the first time that morning. They
exchanged glances, trying to recognize the emotions of the
day before. For a moment each seemed unreal to the oth-
er—then the slow warm hum of love began again.
‘You like to help everybody, don’t you?’ Rosemary said.
‘I only pretend to.’
‘Mother likes to help everybody—of course she can’t help

126 Tender is the Night