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anywhere unless you come here first. Every one that comes
to Europe has got to pass through. You don’t mean it in
that sense so much? You mean what good it does you? Well,
how can you penetrate futurity? How can you tell what lies
ahead? If it’s a pleasant road I don’t care where it leads. I like
the road, Miss Archer; I like the dear old asphalte. You can’t
get tired of it—you can’t if you try. You think you would,
but you wouldn’t; there’s always something new and fresh.
Take the Hotel Drouot, now; they sometimes have three and
four sales a week. Where can you get such things as you can
here? In spite of all they say I maintain they’re cheaper too,
if you know the right places. I know plenty of places, but I
keep them to myself. I’ll tell you, if you like, as a particu-
lar favour; only you mustn’t tell any one else. Don’t you go
anywhere without asking me first; I want you to promise
me that. As a general thing avoid the Boulevards; there’s
very little to be done on the Boulevards. Speaking conscien-
tiously—sans blague—I don’t believe any one knows Paris
better than I. You and Mrs. Touchett must come and break-
fast with me some day, and I’ll show you my things; je ne
vous dis que ca! There has been a great deal of talk about
London of late; it’s the fashion to cry up London. But there’s
nothing in it—you can’t do anything in London. No Lou-
is Quinze—nothing of the First Empire; nothing but their
eternal Queen Anne. It’s good for one’s bed-room, Queen
Annefor one’s washing-room; but it isn’t proper for a salon.
Do I spend my life at the auctioneer’s?’ Mr. Rosier pursued
in answer to another question of Isabel’s. ‘Oh no; I haven’t
the means. I wish I had. You think I’m a mere trifler; I can

302 The Portrait of a Lady