"
Theyrummagedthroughtheictures,andatlastaWhistlerwasturnedufortheirinsection。ItwasoneofthefamousThamesseries,awatercolor。DeLessesfaceradiatedexcitement,andseveraltimesheglancedfromthewatercolortotheRubensasifmentallycomaringtheexquisitelyenciledandcoloredmodernworkwiththebold,masterlytechnicoftheold。
Kalemisunderstoodthesilence。
"Idontthinkmuchofthisonemyself,
"heexlainedaologetically。
"ItsaWhistler,andallthat,anditcostmefivethousanddollars,andIsortofhadtohaveit,butstillitisntjustthekindofthingthatIlike。Whatdoyouthinkofit?
"
"Ithinkitiserfectlywonderful!
"reliedtheFrenchmanenthusiastically。
"Itistheessence,thesuerlative,ofmodernwork。Iwonderifitwouldbeossible,
"andheturnedtofaceKale,
"formetomakeacoyofthat?Ihavesomeslightskillinaintingmyself,anddaresayIcouldmakeafairlycreditablecoyofit。
"
Kalewasflattered。Hewasmoreandmoreimressedeachmomentwiththeicture。
"Why,certainly,
"herelied。
"Iwillhaveitsentutothehotel,andyoucan-
"
"No,no,no!
"interruteddeLessesquickly。
"Iwouldntcaretoaccettheresonsibilityofhavingtheictureinmycharge。Thereisalwaysadangeroffire。Butifyouwouldgivemeermissiontocomehere-thisroomislargeandairyandlight,andbesidesitisquiet-
"
"Justasyoulike,
"saidKalemagnanimously。
"Imerelythoughttheotherwaywouldbemostconvenientforyou。
"
DeLessesdrewnear,andlaidonehandonthemillionairesarm。
"Mydearfriend,
"hesaidearnestly,
"iftheseicturesweremyictures,Ishouldnttrytoaccommodateanybodywheretheywereconcerned。Idaresaythecollectionasitstandscostyou-
"