THE CAPITOLINE VENUS. 223 



"Fifty thousand demons! Child, I am in arrears for my board!" 



CHAPTER II. 

 \Scene — A Dwelling in J?ome.] 



" My dear sir, it is useless to talk. I haven't anything against you, but I can't 

 let my daughter marry a hash of love, art, and starvation — I believe you have 

 nothing else to offer." 



" Sir, I am poor, I grant you. But is fame nothing ? The Hon. Bellamy Foodie, 

 of Arkansas, says that my new statue of America is a clever piece of sculpture, and 

 he is satisfied that my name will one day be famous." 



"Bosh! What does that Arkansas ass know about it.? Fame's nothing — the 



market price of your marble scare-crow is the thing to look at. It took you six 



months to chisel it, and you can't sell it for a hundred dollars. No, sir ! Show 



me fifty thousand dollars and you can have my daughter — otherwise she marries 



young Simper. You have just six months to raise the money in. Good morning, 



sir." 



"Alas! Woe is me!" 



CHAPTER III. 



[^St:ene — T/ie Studio.\ 



" Oh, John, friend of my boyhood, I am the unhappiest of men.'' 



"You're a simpleton!" 



" I have nothing left to love but my poor statue of America — and see, even she 

 has no sympathy for me in her cold marble countenance — so beautiful and- so 

 heartless !" 



"You're a dummy!" 



"Oh, John!" 



" Oh, fudge ! Didn't you say you had six months to raise the money in .?" 



" Don't deride my agony, John. If I had six centuries what good would it do t 

 How could it help a poor wretch without name, capital or friends V 



" Idiot ! Coward ! Baby ! Six months to raise the money in — and five will do !" 

 . "Are you insane?" 



