rition that had suddenly framed itself in t

take a seat, take a cigarette-bother this draper

. He took his place behind the painter, and gaz

frock coat. A figure suggestive of Count d'Orsay gone to the dogs. Mil

after a long and critical survey of the little

ork improves, Leavesley-improves, ver

on the floor and tightly clasping the umbrella he carried under his l

dly; but might I m

s,

g

the attitude of tha

an with

ight-hand co

an axe, that's a lady w

light. Of course, of course, of course-a lady with a fan, it's quite obvious

down, like a good fellow

att

young lady to c

ung l

ish you'd wai

l be ch

t's not that. See here, Verneede

lis

e unlike an

H

7] innocent and altogether good, that upon

to trust y

nly, it doesn't

not, deci

to say is this, she's so innocent of the world that she does things quite innoc

young

he likes. I wish I had a female of some sort to receive her here, but I haven't," sa

ly, "who would fall in with your requirements; unfortunately, she is not

moon. No matter, you'll do, an excellent s

g

lightly ruffled by this last remark, "is this young la

te somewhere in the country, but, somehow, I fancy their affairs are involved. Mr Lambert always seems to be going to law with people. No matter, I want to get

and left the stud

e lived on was a mystery to every one. Some tiny income he must have had, but no man knew from whence it came. Useless and picturesque as an old fashion-plate, he wandered through life[Pg 9] with an

f artists, according to their liability to be

est vice, after a taste for beer, a passion fo

eird thoughts and contemplations, came su

exquisitely dressed, was in the studio. He had not heard her knock, or perceived her enter. Had she descended through the ceiling or rise

y soul!" sai

o sorry to have disturbed you, but I[Pg 10] want

o, I believe. Pray take a seat. Ah, ye

sted way. She had placed a tiny parcel and an impossible parasol on the tab

gentleman, "works of art-very much so, the

sweep of the old gentleman's arm as he pointed out the highest art inspired by the truest gen

began to expatiate on art and on the pictures around th

e?" put in Miss Lambert, du

g

, looking at her over his shoulder as he replaced on a hig

is own. Fiat Lux"-the shelf came down with a crash and a cloud of dust-"as the poet says-pray don't move, I will restore

ts face to the wall, seized it with arms ou

male after Reubens that the blunde

he voice of the showman from behind the can

d just entered, and dexterously thrown, had flattened ca