Eusebe understood that he did not understand. The provincial felt
humiliated because he could not catch the sense of certain phrases
and words which were, doubtless, clear enough to Paul Buck. The
painter, who cared more for a listener than for an adept who
understood him, did not take the trouble to explain the theories he
promulgated.
As a consequence, Eusebe grew uneasy of the conversation; and,
as Buck perceived this, he conducted his friend to a café, where
artists, “models,” and other people fond of lounging and chat, were
wont to congregate.
But there Eusebe found the language used to be still more
incomprehensible than that of Paul. The conversation consisted
of dissertations on the æsthetic in art, intermingled with cant
phrases and philosophical reflections.
To this resort the provincial accompanied his friend two or three
times. He would undoubtedly have finished by understanding the
peculiar language of the artistic assemblage, if chance had not
given him another occupation and preserved him from this great
danger. He escaped Scylla to be sacrificed at Capua.