U.S.A_ - John Dos Passos [313]
understand, but through the mental stimulation . . . People don't understand me, Eveline, some of the news-paper boys particularly have written some very hard things about me . .
. why, I'm an old newspaper man myself
. . . Eveline, permit me to say that you look so charming and understanding . . . this il ness of my wife . . . poor Gertrude . . . I'm afraid she'l never be herself again.
. . . You see, it's put me in a most disagreeable position, if some member of her family is appointed guardian it might mean that the considerable sum of money invested by the Staple family in my business, would be withdrawn
-311-. . . that would leave me with very grave embarrass-ments . . . then I've had to abandon my Mexican affairs
. . . what the oil business down there needs is just some-body to explain its point of view to the Mexican public, to the American public, my aim was to get the big interests to take the public in . . ." Eveline fil ed his glass. Her head was swimming a little, but she felt wonderful. She wanted to lean over and kiss him, to make him feel how she admired and understood him. He went on talking
with the glass in his hand, almost as if he were speaking to a whole rotary club. ". . . to take the public into its confidence . . . I had to throw overboard al that . . . when I felt the government of my country needed me. My position is very difficult in Paris, Eveline. . . . They've got the President surrounded by a Chinese wal
. . . I fear that his advisers don't realize the importance of publicity, of taking the public into their confidence at every move. This is a great historical moment, America stands at the parting of the ways . . . without us the war would have ended in a German victory or a negotiated peace . . . And now our very al ies are trying to mon-opolize the natural resources of the world behind our backs.
. . . You remember what Rasmussen said . . . wel , he's quite right. The President is surrounded by sinister in-trigues. Why, even the presidents of the great corporations don't realize that now is the time to spend money, to spend it like water. I could have the French press in my pocket in a week with the proper resources, even in Eng-land I have a hunch that something could be done if it was handled the right way. And then the people are
ful y behind us everywhere, they are sick of autocracy and secret diplomacy, they are ready to greet American democ-racy, American democratic business methods with open arms. The only way for us to secure the benefits of the peace to the world is for us to dominate it. Mr. Wilson doesn't realize the power of a modern campaign of scien--312tific publicity . . . Why, for three weeks I've been trying to get an interview with him, and back in Washington I was cal ing him Woodrow, almost . . . It was at his per-sonal request that I dropped everything in New York at great personal sacrifice, brought over a large part of my office staff . . . and now . . . but Eveline, my dear girl, I'm afraid I'm talking you to death."
Eveline leaned over and patted his hand that lay on the edge of the table. Her eyes were shining, "Oh, it's wonderful," she said. "Isn't this fun, J.W.?"
"Ah, Eveline, I wish I was free to fal in love with you."
"Aren't we pretty free, J.W.? and it's wartime . . . I think al the conventional rubbish about marriage and everything is just too tiresome, don't you?"
"Ah, Eveline, if I was only free . . . let's go out and take a little air . . . Why, we've been here al afternoon." Eveline insisted on paying for the lunch although it took al the money she had on her. They both staggered a little as they left the restaurant, Eveline felt giddy and leaned against J.W.'s shoulder. He kept patting her hand and saying, "There, there, we'l take a little ride." Towards sunset they were riding around the end of the bay into Cannes. "Wel , wel , we must pul ourselves to-gether,"