he asked of the old man. 

 “When I was young, before my miseries. Oh, I was wide awake, then. My father was a great commerçant; he placed me for a year in a counting-house in England. Some of it stuck to me; but much I have forgotten!” 

 “How much French can I learn in a month?” 

 “What does he say?” asked Mademoiselle Noémie. 

 M. Nioche explained. 

 “He will speak like an angel!” said his daughter. 

 But the native integrity which had been vainly exerted to secure M. Nioche’s commercial prosperity flickered up again. “Dame, monsieur!” he answered. “All I can teach you!” And then, recovering himself at a sign from his daughter, “I will wait upon you at your hotel.” 

 “Oh yes, I should like to learn French,” Newman went on, with democratic confidingness. “Hang me if I should ever have thought of it! I took for granted it was impossible. But if you learned my language, why shouldn’t I learn yours?” and his frank, friendly laugh drew the sting from the jest. “Only, if we are going to converse, you know, you must think of something cheerful to converse about.” 

 “You are very good, sir; I am overcome!” said M. Nioche, throwing out his hands. “But you have cheerfulness and happiness for two!” 

 “Oh no,” said Newman more seriously. “You must be bright and lively; that’s part of the bargain.” 

 M. Nioche bowed, with his hand on his heart. “Very well, sir; you have already made me lively.” 

 “Come and bring me my picture then; I will pay you for it, and we will talk about that. That will be a cheerful subject!” 

 Mademoiselle Noémie had collected her accessories, and she gave the precious Madonna in charge to her father, who retreated backwards out of sight, holding it at arm’s-length and reiterating his obeisance. The young lady gathered her shawl about her like a perfect Parisienne, and it was with the smile of a Parisienne that she took leave of her patron. 

 

CHAPTER II

 He wandered back to the divan and seated himself on the other side, in 

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