Henry James epub The American

On a brilliant day in May, in the year 1868, a gentleman was reclining at his ease on thegreat circular divan which at that period occupied the centre of the Salon Carré, in theMuseum of the Louvre. This commodious ottoman has since been removed, to the extremeregret of all weak-kneed lovers of the fine arts, but the gentleman in question had takenserene possession of its softest spot, and, with his head thrown back and his legsoutstretched, was staring at Murillo’s beautiful moon-borne Madonna in profoundenjoyment of his posture. He had removed his hat, and flung down beside him a little redguide-book and an opera-glass. The day was warm; he was heated with walking, and herepeatedly passed his handkerchief over his forehead, with a somewhat wearied gesture.And yet he was evidently not a man to whom fatigue was familiar; long, lean, and muscular,he suggested the sort of vigor that is commonly known as “toughness.” But his exertions onthis particular day had been of an unwonted sort, and he had performed great physicalfeats which left him less jaded than his tranquil stroll through the Louvre.