Hobohemians

31Willy and Heinke wrote a postcard to Viktor in Berlin telling him they were both in Paris. We must get Viktor here. He’ll make one pupil.

32A man with three fingers only on his right hand entered with a bottle. “There you are, Heinke, you’ll want it. You were in a bad way last night. Your friend and I carried you up.”

33“Did we?” said Willy. “Astonishing.”

34“This,” said Heinke with ceremony, “is Mr. Burr Tonn from London. This is Bela from Budapest.”

35Lola spoke up from her chair: “Close the door please. Is this gentleman a painter?” She pointed a suspicious finger at Bela. An American had once paid her ten francs an hour to pose. She had only found out too late that the young gentlemen he was supposed to be teaching were promiscuously gathered from a students’ club at varying sums per head. In return they glutted their eyes with easy inspection of unsaxon nudes.

36“Yes, he comes from the studio next door.”

37“And your friend there?”

38“He is an English gentleman from London.”

39Lola was gracious. She walked around a little. With English gentlemen one might go away to the Riviera and Vichy. They were gentle in their manners.

40Willy went to see Bela’s paintings. The Hungarian moaned the hardships of his life. Heinke will tell him I can’t buy any of his pictures, thought Willy. Bela said: “You have a very fine head with much English character. I will make a drawing of you some day for my collection. This is a picture of my English friend in Munich. He was a very nice man but too poor to buy anything.”

41Willy said good-bye. He had to give his daily unpaid lesson in the rue Damrémont. Outside he had another beer. At the seventh flight he knocked loudly. An unpaid teacher can knock very softly. He is always heard. A large figure in plus fours opened the door. Herr Doktor Jank heavily cordially greeted his teacher.

42Willy hitched up loose trousers. Another new suit. The man was running riot. Jank noticed: “I have got two of my suits this morning. I am very angry with the tailor that my dress suit is not ready yet. I have a big dinner next week.”

43The teacher with splitting head resolved, no more free lessons. He would write that night and ask for a hundred francs advance on fifteen lessons. The Herr Doktor had money for other things.

44“It is somewhat past two o’clock.”

45“Yes. I have been seeing portraits by a Hungarian friend of mine. They were good.”

46The pupil mentioned how desirous he was in Paris of meeting some of its artists.—Paris. Two romanticisms they have in Berlin, that of Italy classical land of citronen [lemons], that of France headmistress of the arts. Perhaps the Hungarian can sting him for a portrait. I will take him there.—