The journalist chuckled--another column! Gaston had acted with coolness and common-sense; and when he sat down and began talking of the Englishman's picture again as if nothing had happened, the others followed, and the meal went on cheerfully.
Presently another young English painter entered, and listened to the conversation, which Gaston brought back to Una and the lions.

It was his way to force things to his liking, if possible; and he wanted to hear about the woman--why, he did not ask himself.

The new arrival, Fancourt by name, kept looking at him quizzically.

Gaston presently said that he would visit the menagerie and see this famous dompteuse that afternoon.
"She's a brick," said Bagshot.

"I was in debt, a year behind with my Pelletier here, and it took all I got for 'A Passion in the Desert' to square up.