The Substitute Millionaire — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Substitute Millionaire
John Stuart Mill · en
Bobo thus encouraged, proved to have a very nice taste in wearing
apparel. They bought hurriedly, for the pangs of hunger were pressing.
But when the main articles, suit, hat, shoes, were out of the way both
young men plunged in the smaller and more luxurious articles; shirts of
heavy silk that crinkled richly between thumb and finger; wonderful
cravats that would almost stand alone. Few youngsters attain their
desires in this direction, and Bobo and Jack, long denied, fairly
wallowed. They each bought a valise to carry away their surplus
purchases.
In half an hour Bobo was transformed. To call Bobo fat was merely to
indicate his type. He was not all over the place, but a well set-up
youngster of a rather melting style of beauty, which promised obesity
later perhaps, but in youth was not unpleasing. At least not in his
new clothes.
When finally Jack produced the roll of yellow backs to pay for what
they had bought, Bobo's look of anxiety disappeared and was not seen
again. A little sigh escaped him. It was as if he had said:
"It is not a dream."
Bobo leaving the outfitters was metamorphosed in more than his apparel.
He stuck his chest out now, and looked passers-by in the eye. A
stage-English accent crept into his unadorned Manhattanese. Jack
seeing him cast sheep's-eyes at a stand of walking-sticks, purchased
him a yellow malacca, such as his own soul had hankered after earlier
in the day. It was the finishing touch. Bobo swung it with a
delightful arrogance. He even adopted a certain condescension of tone
towards Jack who had no stick.
"I say, old chap, these togs are really not half bad for ready-made,
what! Not what a London tailor would turn out of course. But they
fit, because I happen to have a normal figure."
"Perfect forty-six," murmured Jack.
They returned for their dinner to the famous café on Bryant Square. It
was the first eating-place in New York that dared to veil its interior
from the vulgar gaze. Those alluring, closely-drawn pink curtains
cause the envious poor to suspect the delightful worst. It is not so
well known in the provinces as flashier resorts, but it is certainly
the place where most New Yorkers go first when they get money.
When they finally penetrated the mystery the plainness of the interior
was rather disappointing, and the place was almost empty for it was
half way between the dinner and the supper hours. But the food when it
came justified the café's great reputation.
Jack had ordered blindly from the French _carte-de-jour_, choosing the
most expensive dish from each subdivision; _Petite Marmite; Cotelotte
des Ecrivisses au diable; Filet Mignon au Moelle: pommes de terre
Florizel; Choux-fleur hollandaise; plombière_, etc. The result was
eminently satisfactory. Bobo groaned with delight. It appeared that
Bobo had a special and particular talent for eating.