the fortunes of oliver horn-第78章
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eing her latest picture and had even been more enthusiastic over it than he had been over Oliver'sand his instant appreciation of the Lambinet； convinced her； even before he had finished the tour of the room； that the quaint old gentleman was as much at home in her atmosphere as he was in that of his shop at home discussing scientific problems with some savant。
〃I did； my dear。 It is quite as you say；〃 answered Richard； with great earnestness。 〃This 'Woman in Black；' as he calls it； is painted not only with sureness and with an intimate knowledge of the textures； but it seems to me he has the faculty of expressing with each stroke of his brush； as an engraver does with his burin； the rounds and hollows of his surfaces。 And to think； too； my dear；〃 he continued； 〃that most of it was done at night。 The color tones； you know〃and his manner changed； and a more thoughtful expression came into his facethe scientist was speaking now〃are most difficult to manage at night。 The colors of the spectrum undergo some very curious changes under artificial light； especially from a gas consuming as much carbon as our common carburetted hydrogen。 The greens； owing to the absorption of the yellow rays； become the brighter； and the orange and red tones； from the same reason； the more intense； while the paler violets and； in fact； all the tertiaries； of a bluish cast lose〃
He stopped； as he caught a puzzled expression on her face。 〃Oh； what a dreadful person I am；〃 he exclaimed； rising from his seat。 〃It is quite inexcusable in me。 Please forgive me； my dearI was really thinking aloud。 Such ponderous learned words should be kept out of this delightful abode of the Muses； and then； I assure you； I really know so little about it； and you know so much。〃 And he laughed softly； and made a little bow as a further apology。
〃No。 I don't know one thing about it； nor does any other painter I know；〃 she laughed； blowing out the alcohol lamp； 〃not quite in the same way。 And if I did I should want you to come every day and bring Mr。 Gill with you to tell me about it。〃 Where… upon Nathan； replying that nothing would give him more pleasure （he had been silent most of the time somehow no one expected him to talk much when Richard was present）； struggled to his feet at an almost imperceptible sign from the inventor； who suddenly remembered that his capitalists were waiting for him； pulled his old cloak about his shoulders and； with Richard leading the way； they all four moved out into the hall and stood in the open doorway。
When they reached the top stair outside the studio dear Richard stopped； took both of Margaret's hands in his； and said； in his kindest voice and in his gravest and most thoughtful manner； as he looked down into her face：
〃My dear Miss Grant； may I tell you that I have to…day found in you the realization of one of my day… dreams？ And will you forgive an old man when he says how proud it makes him to know a woman who is brave enough to live the life you do？ You are the forerunner of a great movement； my dearthe mother of a new guild。 It is a grand and noble thing for a woman to sustain herself with work that she loves〃and the dear old gentleman； lifting his hat with the air of a courtier； betook himself down…stairs； followed by Nathan； bowing as he went。
No wonder he rejoiced！ Most of the dreams of his younger days were coining true。 And now this woman the beginning of a new erathe opening out of a new civilization。 And ahead of it a National Art that the world would one day recognize！
He tried to express his delight to Oliver； and turned to find him； but Oliver was not beside him nor did he join his father for five minutes at least。 That young gentlemanjust as Richard and Nathan had reached the BOTTOM of the second flight of stairs had suddenly remembered something of the utmost importance which he had left in the INNER room； and which he could not possibly find until Madge； waiting by the banister； had gone back to help him look for it； and not then； until Mrs。 Mulligan had left them both and shut the kitchen…door behind her。 Yes； it was quite five minutes； or more； before Oliver clattered down…stairs after his guests； stopping but once to look up through the banisters into Margaret's eyesshe was leaning over for the purposehis open hand held up toward her as a sign that it was always at her command。
CHAPTER XXIII
MR。 MUNSON'S LOST FOIL
For a quiet； orderly； well behaved and most dignified street； Tenth Street； at seven o'clock one April night was disgracing itself in a way that must have shocked its inhabitants。 Cabs driving like mad were rattling over the cobbles； making their way toward the old Studio Building。 Policemen were shouting to the drivers to keep in line。 Small boys were darting in and out； peering into the cab windows and calling out to their fellows： 〃Ki Jimmy！ see de Ingin wid de fedder…duster on his head〃or； 〃Look at de pill in de yaller shirt！ My eye； ain't he a honey… cooler！〃
At the entrance of the building； just inside the door where the crowd was thickest； stood two men in armor with visors downstood so still； that the boys and bystanders thought they had been borrowed from some bric…a…brac shop until； in an unguarded moment； one plumed knight rested his tired leg with a rattling noise that sounded like a tin…peddler shifting his pack or the adjustment of a length of stovepipe。 Behind the speechless sentinels； leading into the narrow corridor； stretched a red carpet bordered by rows of palms and evergreens and hung about with Chinese lanterns。
At the end of this carpet opened a door that looked into a banquet hall as rich in color and as sumptuous in its interior fittings as an audience… chamber of the Doges at a time when Venice ruled the world。 The walls were draped with Venetian silks and Spanish velvets； against which were placed Moorish plaques； Dutch brass sconces holding clusters of candles； barbaric spears； bits of armor； pairs of fencing foils； old cabinets； and low； luxurious divans。 Thrust up into the skylight； its gaff festooned with trawl…nets； drooped a huge sloop's sail； its graceful folds breaking the square lines of the ceiling； and all about； suspended on long filigree chains； swung old church…lamps of brass or silver； burning ruby tapers。
In the centre of this glow of color stood a round table； its top covered with a white cloth； and laid with covers for fifty guests。 On this were placed； in orderly confusion； great masses of flowers heard up in rare porcelain vases； silver candelabra bearing lighted candles； old Antwerp brass holding bon…bons and sweets； Venetian flagons filled with rare wines； Chinese and Japanese curios doing service as ash… receivers and match…safes； Delft platters for choice dishes； besides Flemish mugs； Bavarian glasses； George III。 silver； and the like。
At the head of this sumptuous board was placed a chair of state； upholstered in red velvet； studded with brass rosettes； the corners of its high back surmounted by two upright gilt ornaments。 This was to hold the Master of the Feast； the presiding officer who was to govern the merry spirits during the hours of the revel。 In front of this royal chair was a huge stone mug crowned with laurel。 This was guarded by two ebony figures； armed with drawn scimitars； which stood at each side of the throne…seat。 From these guards of honor radiated two half…circles of lesser chairs； one for each guestof all patterns and periods： old Spanish altar…seats in velvet； Dutch chairs in leather； Italian chairs in mother…of…pearl and ivoryall armless and quite low； so low that the costumed slaves； who were to wait on the royal assembly； could serve the courses without having to reach over the backs of the guests。
Moving about the room； rearranging the curios on the cabinets； adding a bit of porcelain to the collection on the table； shifting the lights for better effect； lounging on the wide divans； or massed about the doorway welcoming the new arrivals as they entered； were Italian nobles of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries； costumed with every detail correct； even to the jewelled daggers that hung at their sides； all genuine and of the period； cardinals in red hats and wonderful
