"Hadn't observed the likeness before."
"I've found the Old World life a good enough game to play at; I've got no reason to complain."
"Thanks, I'm sure, in the name of France, not to mention England and Italy."
"Oh, you understand me well enough. It's wonderfully attractive, this charming Old World, but from our point of view it isn't life."
"Pretty good imitation."
"That's just it," he laughed. "It's pretty and it's good, but it's imitation. It copies, with Chinese fidelity, old originals that were once, long ago, alive and quick; but to-day—"
"You're taking a leaf out of your old governor's book," said De Poincy, with smiling malice. "I hear cousin Aaron now." And he caricatured him mercilessly. "'To an American, sir, Europe is either a museum or a scene out of a comic opera.' Now, if one said anything like that of America you'd declare war by return of post. But we"—he lit his cigarette and threw away the match with a flourish—"we are amused; we give you exactly the license you demand—that of the child at a fair."
"Well, look here, old man"—Gano laid his hand on De Poincy's shoulder—"this child wants to catch the first boat home."