Chapter 22 two two

I settled down in Paris and started writing a screenplay.My life is very regular; I work in the morning and walk in the Luxembourg Gardens or the streets in the afternoon.I spend a lot of time in the Louvre, the most intimate of all the galleries in Paris, and the most contemplative place for me.Or else I'm just lazing around by the Seine, rummaging through old books I never wanted to buy.I read two pages to the east and two pages to the west, and I got acquainted with many writers in this way.This fragmentary knowledge of these writers is quite sufficient for me.After dinner I went to see my friends.I often went to the Stroeve's, and sometimes had a light supper with him.Stroeve thinks that Italian food is his specialty, and I admit that his pasta is far superior to his paintings.When he brought out a large plate of delicious macaroni with tomatoes, and we ate his home-baked bread with the macaroni while we drank red wine, it was a meal worthy of the emperor.Me and Blanche.Stroeve grew familiar.I think maybe because I'm British and she doesn't know many British people here, she's happy to see me.She is simple-hearted and always cheerful, but she is generally not very talkative.For some reason, she gave me the impression that she had something hidden in her heart.But I also thought that maybe it was just because of her restrained nature and her husband's outspokenness and excessive garrulousness.Dirk can't hold back any words in his heart, even the most secret things will be discussed openly with you without hesitation.His attitude sometimes embarrassed his wife.I saw her get angry only once.That time Stroeve insisted on telling me about his laxatives, and he said it vividly.As he described the disaster to me, he looked so serious that I nearly burst out laughing, while Mrs. Stroeve, utterly embarrassed, finally lost her temper.

You seem willing to take yourself for a fool.she says. When he saw that his wife was really angry, his round eyes widened and his brows furrowed in bewilderment. Honey, are you mad at me?I don't take laxatives anymore.This is all because I am too angry.I sit still all day.I don't exercise enough.I haven't had it for three days God, you still don't shut up!She interrupted him, bursting into tears with exasperation. His face drooped and his lips pursed like a scolded child.He gave me a pleading wink, hoping that I would smooth things over for him, but I couldn't control myself, and I couldn't straighten up laughing.

One day we went together to a dealer, and Stroeve thought he would show me at least two or three Strickland pictures.But when we got there, the dealer told us that Strickland had taken the painting.The art dealer didn't know why he did this. Don't think I'm annoyed by this.I accept that his pictures are for Mr. Stroeve's sake.I told him I would try to sell it for him.But to be honest he shrugged his shoulders, I am interested in young people, but you know it yourself, Mr. Stroeve, and you don't think there is any genius in them. I assure you on my honor that of all these painters there was none more talented than he.Take my word for it, you've ruined a profitable business.Sooner or later these few pictures of his will be worth more than all the pictures in your shop put together.Do you remember Monet?At that time, no one wanted one of his paintings for one hundred francs.How much is it worth now?

good.But there were a hundred painters at that time, not inferior to Monet at all, and they also couldn't sell their paintings.Now these people's paintings are still worthless.Does anyone know what's going on here?Is it true that a painter can become famous as long as he draws well?Do not believe this.Besides, it has not been verified whether your friend is a good painter or not.You, Mr. Stroeve, are the only one who praises him; I haven't heard anyone say anything about him. So tell me, how do you know if a person draws well?Dirk asked, his face flushed with anger. There is only one way to be famous and to draw well.

Philistine.shouted Dirk. Let’s think about the great artists of the past, Raphael, Michelangelo, Ingres [Note 1], and Delacroix [Note 2], all famous. 【Note】 Let.August.Dominic.Ingres: (1780︱1867), French painter. 【Note】Ferdinand.Victor.Eugene.Delacroix: (1798︱1863), French painter. Let's go, Stroeve said to me, or I'll kill this man if we don't.