him in much money. All the same I feel sure that it's a remarkable book.
"There is a man here who is the very opposite of Major Crosby. I feel they can hardly be made of the same stuff. This man is an American whom Stephen knew years ago in the Argentine. He's very rich, and not afflicted with modesty. He has no moods, no reserves, and no curiosity. I never realized before what an agreeable quality curiosity was until I met him. Europe is a playground for him. Not that he knows how to play—he doesn't. He merely does what other people do, and spends prodigious sums of money, and when he tries to be gay or facetious it's like watching a steam engine playing with its tail. We spar a good deal, but he seems to like it. He makes me ponderous compliments—oh, so ponderous! I tell him I'm not used to compliments, and that in England the more we approve of people the less we trouble to let them know it, and that the only person who sometimes tells me I'm rather nice is my brother Noel.
"'Say,' remarks Mr. Colebridge, 'that brother of yours must be kinder human!'
"Mr. and Mrs. Assheton are here and they chaperon me at the Casino evenings after Stephen