He came to when he heard her saying, "I'll bet most of the people look more interesting than they were because the artists were interesting themselves. I mean the painters were so great it rubbed off on the people they painted."
They came to a halt before Manet's "Olympia."
"She's my idea of a fascinating woman," she said, staring intently at the reclining nude and, sighing almost imperceptibly, turned away. "She looks so sure of herself, and satisfied. I don't think women look like that—her face, and the way she is relaxed—any more. I think it's wonderful to be so satisfied. I suppose those Titian nudes make every painter want to paint a woman lying nude. Or maybe it's only some woman."
The view over the green Seine fascinated her and he related a little of the history of the palace and its residents.
"You talk as if they are personal friends."
They left the museum and walked along graveled walks between lagoon and urns and greeneries where mothers and nurses were taking children toward the shaded Tuileries.
He had almost forgotten the time. "It's eleven, but you can make it to Lanvin's in ten minutes in a taxi."
"It's a shame to go indoors on such a nice day," she said. Indoors, or outdoors, she didn't want to leave him.
"But your appointments?" he said, hoping she would abandon them.
"I'll telephone and postpone it. I'd love to see Versailles. I might never have another chance."
"You don't know French telephones, but we'll try."
She felt better than she ever had except once during the walk with him in Central Park, and then that night up Fifth Avenue. She mustn't forget though, she cautioned herself, that this is only for today.
After a quick mental tabulation of the francs he had with him, he said, "I have to make a stop first" and took her back to the Place Vendôme where at Morgan et Cie he reduced further his negligible funds.
"I want to ride in a bus," she stated to save him money and prolong the time.
Versailles, palace and gardens, amazed her. "I feel right at home. In the theatre we have a gelatine called Du Barry pink, it's very flattering, but this place doesn't need it."
"You don't need Du Barry's or anyone else's pink."
