"An artist is always an artist, Monsieur.

She is willing, however, to renounce it for ever, if you, on your side, will make quite a small sacrifice." "Name it, Monsieur." "You have a little passion for baccarat----" "Surely, Monsieur," said he blandly, "my wife would not expect me to give up what is the mere recreation of every clubman." "As a recreation pure and simple--she would not insist too much, but----" I shrugged my shoulders.

I flatter myself on being able to do it with perfect French expressiveness.

I caught, to my satisfaction, an angry gleam in his eye.
"Do you mean to say, Monsieur, that I play for more than recreation ?" "How dare I say anything, Monsieur.

But Madame is prejudiced against the Cercle Africain.