A Brush with the Enemy 



This overcame his last detachment of patience, and he 

 said, — 



" Oh ciel ! les pinceaux ne sont pas long a choisir ! ! ! " 



" II me parait que je vous ennuie ? " 



" Un peu, vraiment ! " 



" Comme ce n'est que pour vous distraire, monsieur, dans 

 vos moments de loisir que j'achete ces objets, et comme il 

 m'est parfaitement indifferent qu'ils soient bien ou mal 

 choisis, je continuerai avec deliberation I'accomplissement 

 de mon affaire." 



This speech acted, of course, as a declaration of v/zr. 

 Amid much violence and undiplomatic language, I with- 

 drew the golden ambassador I held in my hand ready to 

 drop into his capital. He, on the other hand, undid my 

 parcel and put each particular paint in its place, under the 

 glass counter, with a flourish ; making an extra flourish 

 with the vermilion — I suppose by way of expressing his 

 political preference for that hue. 



Thus I should have lost, my only chance of being able to 

 make any water-colour drawings in Spain (for there are no 

 materials to be bought in the country, says the infallible 

 Mr. Ford), had I spoken as I have written. 



Instead of this, at the point where he delivered himself 

 or the apophthegm " that paint-brushes were not things 

 that took long to choose," I reflected that the poor young 

 man was probably in love, or had a headache, or an appoint- 

 ment, or had been recently reproved by his parents. There- 

 fore, though I composed the little speech in my head, and 

 had it ready in case my patience should happen to give way, 

 I managed to keep it to myself, and went on with a specious 

 calmness choosing my brushes, and at length, paying my 

 money, departed in peace ; I doubt not with the young 

 man's blessing. Nay, also with his alms, for in his haste to 



46 



