the fortunes of oliver horn-第74章
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sh bought it。 He's wild about it。 Says it's the best thing since Sully。 He wants you to paint his daughter； that's what I wanted to see you about。 Great card for you； Mr。 Horn。 I congratulate you！〃
Oliver gave a low whistle。 His own good fortune was for the moment forgotten in his surprise at the woman's audacity。 Selling a sketch painted by one of the club！ one which had virtually been GIVEN to her。
〃Poor Bianchi！ He does pick up the queerest people。 I wonder if she was out of stockings；〃 he said half…aloud。
〃Oh； you needn't worry about the Madame； she won't suffer for clothes as long as she's got that pair of eyes in her head。 You just ought to have seen her handle old Fish。 It was beautiful。 But； see here now； you don't want to make old Peter a present of this portrait of his daughter。 He's good for a thousand； I tell you。 She got a cracking price for that one；〃 and he pointed to the picture。
Again Oliver laughed。
〃A cracking price？ She must have needed the money bad。〃 The more he thought of it the funnier it seemed。
Snedecor looked surprised。 He was thinking of Fish's order and the amount of his commission。 Most of Oliver's remarks were unintelligible to himespecially his reference to the stockings。
〃What shall I say to him？〃 Snedecor asked at last。
〃Oh； nothing in particular。 Just send him to my studio。 I'll be in all to…morrow morning。〃
〃Well； but don't you think you'd better go and see him yourself now？ He's too big a bug to run after people。 That kind of thing don't come every day； you know； you might lose it。 Why； he lives right near you in that swell house across the Square。〃
〃Oh； I know him very well；〃 said Oliver； nodding his head。 〃No； let him come to…morrow to me； it won't hurt him to walk up three flights of stairs。 I'm busy to…day。 Now I think of it； there's one thing； though； you CAN tell him； and please be particular about itthere will be no advance over my regular price。 I don't care to compete with her ladyship。〃
Without waiting to hear the dealer's protest he stepped outside the shop and joined the crowd about the window； elbowing each other for a better view of the portrait。 No one recognized him。 He was too obscure for that。 They might after this； he thought with an exultant throb； and a flush of pride crossed his face。
As he walked down Broadway a sense of the humor of the whole situation came over him。 Here for years he had been working day and night； running the gauntlet of successive juries and hanging committees； with his best things rejected or skied until his Tam…o'…Shanter girl made a hit； worrying； hoping against hope； racking his brain as to how and when and where he would find the path which would lead him to commercial successa difficult task for one too proud to beg for favors and too independent to seek another's aidand here； out of the clear sky； had come this audacious Bohemienne； the pet of foyer and studioa woman who presented the greatest number of contrasts to the things he held most dear in womankindand with a single stroke had cleared the way to success for him。 And this； too； not from any love of him； nor his work； nor his future； but simply to settle a board…bill or pay for a bonnet。
Again Oliver laughed； this time so loudly that the man in front turned and looked at him。
〃A cracking price；〃 he kept repeating to himself； 〃a cracking price； eh？ and out of old Peter Fish！ Went fishing for minnows and hooked a whale； and another little fish for me！ I wonder what she baited her hook with。 That woman's a genius。〃
Suddenly he caught sight of the sign of a Long Island florist set up in an apothecary's window between the big green and red glass globes that lined its sides。
Turning on his heel he entered the door。
〃Pick me out a dozen red japonicas；〃 he said to the boy behind the counter。
Oliver waited until each short…stemmed blossom was carefully selected； laid on its bed of raw cotton； blanketed with the same covering； and packed in a paper box。 Then； taking a card from his pocket； he wrote upon its back： 〃Most grateful thanks for my share of the catch；〃 slipped it into an envelope； addressed it to 〃The fair Fisher； The Countess Kovalski；〃 and； with a grim smile on his face； kept on down Broadway toward the dingy hotel； the resort of all the Southerners of the time； to arrange for rooms for his father and Nathan Gill。
Having； with his card and his japonicas； dismissed the Countess from his mind； and to a certain extent his obligations； the full importance of this new order of Peter Fish's began to take possession of him。 The color rose in his cheeks and an old…time spring and lightness came into his steps。 He knew that such a commission； and from such a man； would at once gain for him a recognition from art patrons and a standing among the dealers。 Lasting success was now assured him in the line he had chosen for his life's work。 It only remained for him to do the best that was in him。 Better than all； it had come to him unasked and without any compromising effort on his own part。
He knew the connoisseur's collection。 It filled the large gallery adjoining his extensive home on Washington Square and was not only the best in the city； containing as it did examples of Sir Thomas Lawrence； Sir Joshua Reynolds； Chrome； Sully； and many of the modern French schoolamong them two fine Courbets and a Rousseaubut it had lately been enriched by one or more important American landscapes； notably Sanford Gifford's 〃Catskill Gorge〃 and Church's 〃Tropics〃two canvases which had attracted more than usual attention at the Spring Exhibition of the Academy。 An order； therefore； for a family portrait from so distinguished a patron not only gave weight and dignity to the work of any painter he might select； but it would unquestionably influence his many friends and acquaintances to go and do likewise。
As Oliver； his eyes aglow； his whole heart filled with joy； stepped quickly down the street the beauty of the day made him throw back his shoulders and drink in long deep breaths； as if he would fill his very pores with its vitality。 These early spring days in New Yorkthe most beautiful the world over； not even in Italy can one find better skiesalways affected him in this way。 There was a strength…giving quality in the ozone； a brilliancy in the sunshine； and a tempered coolness in the air to be found nowhere else。 There was； too； a certain picturesqueness in the sky…line of the housesa sky…line fringed with jets of white steam from the escape…pipes of numerous fires below； which appealed to his artistic sense。 These curling plumes that waved so triumphantly in the sparkling morning light； or stirred by the wind； flapped like milk…white signal flags； breaking at last into tatters and shreds； blurring the edges of chimney and cornice； were a constant source of delight to the young painter。 He would often stop to watch their movements； and as often determine to paint them at the first opportunity。 They seemed to express to him something of the happy freedom of one released from pent…up toil； a freedom longed for in his own heart； and which had rarely been his since those blessed days under Moose Hillock； when he and Margaret roamed the woods together。
Still a third cause of rejoicingand this sent a flutter around his heartwas the near prospect of meeting his dear old father； whom he had not seen for months； not since his last visit home； and whose long years of struggle and waiting seemed now to be so nearly ended。
With these last joyous thoughts filling his mind； he stepped quickly through the corridor of the hotel； approached the desk； and had just given the names of his father and Nathan to the clerk； when a man behind the counter interrupted him with：
〃Just arrived。 Got in this morning。 There they are by the window。〃
Two quaint…looking old gentlemen were gazing out upon the rush of Broadwaytwo old gentlemen so unusual that even the habitues of the place； those who sat tilted back all day chipping the arms of their chairs with their pen…knives； or sipping countless toddies and juleps； were still staring at them in undisguised astonishment。 Oneit was Nathanwore a queer hat； bushy； white hair； and long； pen…wiper cloak： it was th
