Page 145 - tender-is-the-night

a Meestaire Freeman into prison that is a friend of all the
world. He says there is injustice and he wishes to see Mees-
taire North before he himself is arrested.’
‘We know nothing about it.’ Nicole disclaimed the whole
business with a vehement clap of the receiver. Abe’s bi-
zarre reappearance made it plain to her how fatigued she
was with his dissipation. Dismissing him from her mind
she went out, ran into Rosemary at the dressmaker’s, and
shopped with her for artificial flowers and allcolored strings
of colored beads on the Rue de Rivoli. She helped Rosemary
choose a diamond for her mother, and some scarfs and
novel cigarette cases to take home to business associates in
California. For her son she bought Greek and Roman sol-
diers, a whole army of them, costing over a thousand francs.
Once again they spent their money in different ways and
again Rosemary admired Nicole’s method of spending.
Nicole was sure that the money she spent was hers— Rose-
mary still thought her money was miraculously lent to her
and she must consequently be very careful of it.
It was fun spending money in the sunlight of the for-
eign city with healthy bodies under them that sent streams
of color up to their faces; with arms and hands, legs and
ankles that they stretched out confidently, reaching or step-
ping with the confidence of women lovely to men.
When they got back to the hotel and found Dick, all
bright and new in the morning, both of them had a moment
of complete childish joy.
He had just received a garbled telephone call from Abe
who, so it appeared, had spent the forenoon in hiding.

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