EPISODES 259 



portrait, although an excellent man at everything else, is 

 the worst sitter I ever saw; and the incident I promised 

 to relate to you, as one curious enough, is connected with 

 his bad mode of sitting. Sir, I forgot to ask if you would 

 take any refreshment — a glass of wine, or — ^" I assured 

 him I needed nothing more than his agreeable company, 

 and he proceeded. " Well, sir, the first morning that the 

 Commodore came to sit, he was in full uniform, and with 

 his sword at his side. After a few moments of conversa- 

 tion, and when all was ready on my part, I bade him 

 ascend this throne, place himself in the attitude which I 

 contemplated, and assume an air becoming an officer of 

 the navy. He mounted, placed himself as I had desired, 

 but merely looked at me as if I had been a block of stone. 

 I waited a few minutes, when, observing no change on 

 his placid countenance, I ran the chalk over the canvas 

 to form a rough outline. This done, I looked up to his 

 face again, and opened a conversation which I thought 

 would warm his warlike nature; but in vain. I waited 

 and waited, talked and talked, until, my patience — sir, 

 you must know I am not overburdened with phlegm — 

 being almost run out, I rose, threw my palette and brushes 

 on the floor, stamped, walking to and fro about the room, 

 and vociferated such calumnies against our navy that I 

 startled the good Commodore. He still looked at me 

 with a placid countenance, and, as he has told me since, 

 thought I had lost my senses. But I observed him all 

 the while, and, fully as determined to carry my point as 

 he would be to carry off an enemy's ship, I gave my oaths 

 additional emphasis, addressed him as a representative of 

 the navy, and, steering somewhat clear of personal insult, 

 played off my batteries against the craft. The Commo- 

 dore walked up to me, placed his hand on the hilt of his 

 sword, and told me, in a resolute manner, that if I in- 

 tended to insult the navy, he would instantly cut off my 

 ears. His features exhibited all the spirit and animation 



