Page:Tales of Three Cities (Boston, James R. Osgood & Co., 1884).djvu/149

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LADY BARBERINA.
137

"Some old friends of mine,—Americans," Jackson Lemon answered.

"Of course they are Americans; there is nothing but Americans nowadays."

"Oh, yes, our turn 's coming round!" laughed the young man.

"But that does n't say who they are," his companion continued. "It 's so difficult to say who Americans are," she added, before he had time to answer her.

"Dexter Freer and his wife,—there is nothing difficult about that; every one knows them."

"I never heard of them," said the English girl.

"Ah, that 's your fault. I assure you everybody knows them."

"And does everybody know the little man with the fat face whom you kissed your hand to?"

"I did n't kiss my hand; but I would if I had thought of it. He is a great chum of mine, a fellow student at Vienna."

"And what 's his name?"

"Dr. Feeder."

Jackson Lemon's companion was silent a moment. "Are all your friends doctors?" she presently inquired.

"No; some of them are in other businesses."

"Are they all in some business?"

"Most of them; save two or three, like Dexter Freer."

"Dexter Freer? I thought you said Dr. Freer."

The young man gave a laugh. "You heard me