Международный эпизод

           Thefirstdinneronland,afteraseavoyage,is,underanycircumstances,adelightfuloccasion,andtherewassomethingparticularlyagreeableinthecircumstancesinwhichouryoungEnglishmenfoundthemselves.Theywereextremelygoodnaturedyoungmen;theyweremoreobservantthantheyappeared;inasortofinarticulate,accidentallydissimulativefashion,theywerehighlyappreciative.Thiswas,perhaps,especiallythecasewiththeelder,whowasalso,asIhavesaid,themanoftalent.Theysatdownatalittletable,whichwasaverydifferentaffairfromthegreatclatteringseesawinthesaloonofthesteamer.Thewidedoorsandwindowsoftherestaurantstoodopen,beneathlargeawnings,toawidepavement,wheretherewereotherplantsintubs,androwsofspreadingtrees,andbeyondwhichtherewasalargeshadysquare,withoutanypalings,andwithmarble-pavedwalks.Andabovethevividverdureroseotherfacadesofwhitemarbleandofpalechocolate-coloredstone,squaringthemselvesagainstthedeepbluesky.Here,outside,inthelightandtheshadeandtheheat,therewasagreattinklingofthebellsofinnumerablestreetcars,andaconstantstrollingandshufflingandrustlingofmanypedestrians,alargeproportionofwhomwereyoungwomeninPompadour-lookingdresses.Within,theplacewascoolandvaguelylighted,withtheplashofwater,theodorofflowers,andtheflittingofFrenchwaiters,asIhavesaid,uponsoundlesscarpets.“It’sratherlikeParis,youknow,”saidtheyoungerofourtwotravelers.“It’slikeParis—onlymoreso,”hiscompanionrejoined.