Guy Wetmore Carryl

“ Not Mounet himself could have done better.
“The only man to whom one should confide personal secrets,” said Bibi-la-Raie, “is he whom one has never seen before and will, as is probable, never see again. I could tell you many things, Monsieur Cazeby, since that is your name, — I have seen your morning’s mail, you know! ”

“ It was not that he did not comprehend the other’s purpose, but, to his way of thinking, there was something distinctly humorous in the idea of holding up a man with only sixty centimes to his name, and menacing him with injury, when he himself was on his way to the upper right hand drawer of the marqueterie desk.
“I have need of a drink,” repeated the other, coming a step nearer. “Thou art not deaf, at least?”
“No,” said Cazeby, pleasantly, “no, I am not deaf, and I, too, have need of a drink. Shall we take it together?” ”

“ But Cazeby père was one of the hopeless persons who believe in economy. He was of the perverted opinion that money hardly come by should be thoughtfully spent, or, preferably, invested in government bonds, and he had violent prejudices against “industrials,” games of chance, and young men who preferred the gayety of a foreign capital to the atmosphere of “the Swamp.” Also he was very rich. But Anthony had long since ceased to regard his father as anything more than a chance relation. ”

“ But whether or not you will come is something for you to decide. It is less trouble to cook eggs for one than for two.”
Bibi-la-Raie reflected briefly. Finally he had recourse to his characteristic shrug.
“After all, what difference?” he said. “As well now as another time. I follow thee!”
The strangely assorted companions entered Cazeby’s apartment as the clock was striking one, and pressure of an electric button, flooding the salon with light, revealed a little tea-table furnished with cigarettes and cigars, decanters of Scotch whiskey and liqueurs, and Venetian goblets of oddly tinted glass. ”

“ But I think you are mistaken in your conviction of what makes life worth living. I had my own delusions in the time. But I have had a deal of schooling since then. There are many things as amusing as luxury — even on the exterior boulevards. Of course, actual experience is essential. One never knows what one would do under given conditions.”
He turned suddenly, and looked Cazeby in the eye. ”

“ The life of a popular young diplomat with extravagant tastes is not conducive to economy, and the forty thousand dollars which had come to Cazeby at the beginning of his twenty-eighth year had proved but a bad second best in the struggle with Parisian gayety. ”

“ One learns much thereby, but more after one has reached the ground. In many ways I am afraid experience has made me cynical, but in one it has taught me optimism. I have found, and I think I shall continue to find, that there is always something worth looking into around the next corner of even the darkest street. ”

“ His wrists and ankles were aching from the pressure of the curtain cords with which he had been bound, and he was gratified when, after a brief interval, the salon door was opened in its turn and the invaluable Jules came in, in shirt-sleeves and long white apron, carrying a handful of letters. ”