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For a moment MacMaster was almost equal to abetting James in his theft. He reflected that pictures had been whitewashed, or hidden in the crypts of churches, or under the floors of palaces from meaner motives, and to save them from a fate less ignominious. But presently, with a sigh, he shook his head.

“No, James, it won’t do at all. It has been tried over and over again, ever since the world has been agoing and pictures amaking. It was tried in Florence and in Venice, but the pictures were always carried away in the end. You see, the difficulty is that although Treffinger told you what was not to be done with the picture, he did not say definitely what was to be done with it. Do you think Lady Treffinger really understands that he did not want it to be sold?”

“Well, sir, it was like this, sir,” said James, resuming his seat on the trunk and again resting the picture against his knee. “My memory is as clear as glass about it. After Sir ‘Ugh got up from ‘is first stroke, ‘e took a fresh start at the

Marriage

. Before that ‘e ‘ad been working at it only at night for a while back; the

Legend

was the big picture then, an’ was under the north light w’ere ‘e worked of a morning. But one day ‘e bid me take the

Legend

down an’ put the

Marriage

in its place, an’ ‘e says, dashin’ on ‘is jacket, ‘Jymes, this is a start for the finish, this time.’

“From that on ‘e worked at the night picture in the mornin’–a thing contrary to ‘is custom. The

Marriage

went wrong, and wrong–an’ Sir ‘Ugh agettin’ seedier an’ seedier every day. ‘E tried models an’ models, an’ smudged an’ pynted out on account of ‘er face goin’ wrong in the shadow. Sometimes ‘e layed it on the colors, an’ swore at me an’ things in general. He got that discouraged about ‘imself that on ‘is low days ‘e used to say to me: ‘Jymes, remember one thing; if anythink ‘appens to me, the

Marriage

is not to go out of ‘ere unfinished. It’s worth the lot of ’em, my boy, an’ it’s not agoing to go shabby for lack of pains.’ ‘E said things to that effect repeated.

“He was workin’ at the picture the last day, before ‘e went to ‘is club. ‘E kept the carriage waitin’ near an hour while ‘e put on a stroke an’ then drawed back for to look at it, an’ then put on another, careful like. After ‘e ‘ad ‘is gloves on, ‘e come back an’ took away the brushes I was startin’ to clean, an’ put in another touch or two. ‘It’s acomin’, Jymes,’ ‘e says, ‘by gad if it ayn’t.’ An’ with that ‘e goes out. It was cruel sudden, w’at come after.

“That night I was lookin’ to ‘is clothes at the ‘ouse when they brought ‘im ‘ome. He was conscious, but w’en I ran downstairs for to ‘elp lift ‘im up, I knowed ‘e was a finished man. After we got ‘im into bed ‘e kept lookin’ restless at me and then at Lydy Elling and ajerkin’ of ‘is ‘and. Finally ‘e quite raised it an’ shot ‘is thumb out toward the wall. ‘He wants water; ring, Jymes,’ says Lydy Elling, placid. But I knowed ‘e was pointin’ to the shop.

“‘Lydy Treffinger,’ says I, bold, ‘he’s pointin’ to the studio. He means about the

Marriage

; ‘e told me today as ‘ow ‘e never wanted it sold unfinished. Is that it, Sir ‘Ugh?’

“He smiled an’ nodded slight an’ closed ‘is eyes. ‘Thank you, Jymes,’ says Lydy Elling, placid. Then ‘e opened ‘is eyes an’ looked long and ‘ard at Lydy Elling.