Page 259 - tender-is-the-night

‘In your experience, Baby,’ he demanded, ‘have you
found that when a European wants to see an American
VERY pressingly it is invariably something concerned with
money?’
‘What is it?’ she said innocently.
‘This young Privat-dozent thinks that he and I ought to
launch into big business and try to attract nervous break-
downs from America.’
Worried, Franz stared at Baby as Dick continued:
‘But who are we, Franz? You bear a big name and I’ve
written two textbooks. Is that enough to attract anybody?
And I haven’t got that much money—I haven’t got a tenth
of it.’ Franz smiled cynically. ‘Honestly I haven’t. Nicole and
Baby are rich as Croesus but I haven’t managed to get my
hands on any of it yet.’
They were all listening now—Dick wondered if the girl at
the table behind was listening too. The idea attracted him.
He decided to let Baby speak for him, as one often lets wom-
en raise their voices over issues that are not in their hands.
Baby became suddenly her grandfather, cool and experi-
mental.
‘I think it’s a suggestion you ought to consider, Dick. I
don’t know what Doctor Gregory was saying—but it seems
to me—‘
Behind him the girl had leaned forward into a smoke
ring and was picking up something from the floor. Nicole’s
face, fitted into his own across the table—her beauty, tenta-
tively nesting and posing, flowed into his love, ever braced
to protect it.

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