"I asked him if he was happy with Ata.
"`She leaves me alone,' he said. 'She cooks my food and looks
after her babies. She does what I tell her. She gives me
what I want from a woman.'
"`And do you never regret Europe? Do you not yearn sometimes
for the light of the streets in Paris or London, the
companionship of your friends, and equals,
for theatres and newspapers, and the rumble of omnibuses on
the cobbled pavements?'
"For a long time he was silent. Then he said:
"`I shall stay here till I die.'
"`But are you never bored or lonely?' I asked.
"He chuckled.
"`,' he said. `It is evident that you do
not know what it is to be an artist.'"
Capitaine Brunot turned to me with a gentle smile, and there
was a wonderful look in his dark, kind eyes.
"He did me an injustice, for I too know what it is to have
dreams. I have my visions too. In my way I also am an artist."
We were all silent for a while, and Tiare fished out of her
capacious pocket a handful of cigarettes. She handed one to
each of us, and we all three smoked. At last she said:
"Since is interested in Strickland, why do you
not take him to see Dr.
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