268 A TOUE EOUND MT GAEDEN. 



" None." 



" Then I cannot tell whom that can be by.'' 



" I feel no doubt that you will recognise the master when 

 you see the picture." 



" Very possibly — ^nay, even probably, I may ; but at pre- 

 sent my memory does not furnish me with anything hke 

 that." 



" I saw another this morning which very much interested 

 me. It was a beautiful woman, holding a pink in her hand." 



" Oh, weU known : that's by Eubens." 



"Do you think so?" 



" I am sure of it ; but you must permit me to be less siu'e 

 of another thing." 



" Oh, certainly; and pray what is the thing of which you 

 are not sure?" 



" That is, that this picture can belong to you." 



"WeU, I don't positively say it does belong to me; but 

 what I do say is, that I saw it in my house this morning." 



"My dear friend, my dear friend! allow me to speak 

 frankly to you. There is one thing I greatly fear on your 

 account; I am afraid you are the dupe of some picture- 

 dealer, who has plundered you and made you pay very dear 

 for mere daubs." 



" I beg you, my good friend, to keep this kind interest for 

 others; I do assure you that the pictures of which I teU you 

 are aU that is most beautiful; I have never seen any, in any 

 gallery, which can compare with mine, either in truth, design, 

 or colour." 



" I am accustomed to hear every amateur, if he be only 

 the master of three middling copies, or five or sis unowned 

 sketches, seek to make himself believe that he possesses mira- 

 cles. Now, I may be allowed to say to you what I am going 

 to observe, because you do not pretend to be rich, but on 

 the contrary, you rather pretend not to be so. WeU; I know 

 the value of the pictures you have described to me; and I 

 declare to you, that if you reaUy possess them ; if, as you tell 

 me, these form but a small part of your coUection; if you 



have not amused yourself with laughing at me How 



many pictures have you?" 



" Too many to count." 



