Guy Wetmore Carryl

“ Don’t call the servants for a half-hour, at least: it irritates them immeasurably to have their eating confused with other people’s drinking.”
“I really don’t mean it as gossip,” said Mrs. Ratchett, as the men vanished into the house. “I’m interested in Mr. Vane. He seems more rational and cleaner-cut than the American cubs one sees over here as a rule; and if he’s only going to go the way of the rest of them — if there’s a woman in the case—”
Mrs. Carnby shrugged her shoulders. “Andrew Vane has been in Paris for ten weeks,” she said. ”

“ You must pardon me my shortcomings. I can’t very well be all things to all men — much less to one woman. And, while we are on this subject, it may interest you to know that Vane has chosen his profession: he’s going to be a novelist. ”

“ Carnby frankly. “The women one speaks of as being in cases are always more or less disreputable. Well, there is a woman in the case of our young friend — and a very engaging woman at that.”
“Engaging appears to be a habit with Mr. Vane’s flames,” said Mrs. Ratchett. “It’s a little hard on the one in America. And pray where did you see her? — the other, I mean.”
“Oh, here, there, and everywhere. Vane made the mistake, at first, of trying to carry on his little affair sub rosa. People are always seen when they try not to be, you know. ”

“ It sounds to me a good deal like saying he’s going to be a German Emperor or a Pope — that’s all.”
“Nevertheless, I’m quite sure that’s what I mean. He has read me several chapters of a novel upon which he’s at work, and I must say that they display a knowledge of women which, in a man of his years, is nothing less than remarkable.” ”

“ Paris does such a deal for the raw American, in the way of opening his eyes. Vane is just beginning to ‘learn how.’ I’ve no doubt that in Boston he ate his lettuce with sugar and vinegar, and thought it effeminate to have his nails manicured. Now that he’s acquiring the art of living, pray make some allowance for the crude colouring of his exquisses. The finished picture will be a creation of marked merit, I warrant you. I’ve seen a good bit of Vane, and he can be trusted to take care of himself.”
“The question is whether he can be trusted to have other people take care of him,” said Mrs. ”

“ Chapter IX. The Woman in the Case. In the sun-spangled stretch of shade under the acacias of the Villa Rossignol four drank coffee and talked of Andrew Vane. Mrs. Carnby had remained in Paris three weeks beyond her usual time ”

“ In the first place, there were fourteen bedrooms; and in the second, a hostess who never made plans for her guests; and in the third, no fixed hour for first breakfast. People came by unexpected trains, and, finding every one out, ordered, as the sex might be, whiskey and cigarettes, or tea and a powder-box, and were served, and, in general, made themselves at home, till Mrs. ”