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I thought her a very good-looking girl," said Tommy, finding his tongue.

Sure she is. But she's not like her photo one bit. At least I suppose she is in a

way--must be--because I recognized her right off. If I'd seen her in a crowd I'd

have said 'There's a girl whose face I know' right away without any hesitation. But

there was something about that photo"--Julius shook his head, and heaved a

sigh--"I guess romance is a mighty queer thing!"

"It must be," said Tommy coldly, "if you can come over here in love with one girl,

and propose to another within a fortnight."

Julius had the grace to look discomposed.

"Well, you see, I'd got a sort of tired feeling that I'd never find Jane--and that it

was all plumb foolishness anyway. And then--oh, well, the French, for instance,

are much more sensible in the way they look at things. They keep romance and

marriage apart----"

Tommy flushed.

Well, I'm damned! If that's----"

Julius hastened to interrupt.

Say now, don't be hasty. I don't mean what you mean. I take it Americans have a

higher opinion of morality than you have even. What I meant was that the French

set about marriage in a businesslike way--find two people who are suited to one

another, look after the money affairs, and see the whole thing practically, and in

a businesslike spirit."

"If you ask me," said Tommy, "we're all too damned businesslike nowadays. We're

always saying, 'Will it pay?' The men are bad enough, and the girls are worse!"

Cool down, son. Don't get so heated."

I feel heated," said Tommy.

Julius looked at him and judged it wise to say no more.

However, Tommy had plenty of time to cool down before they reached Holyhead,

and the cheerful grin had returned to his countenance as they alighted at their

190

The Secret Adversary