. His glance was
singularly reassuring; he liked the young man's face; it strongly
resembled that of Madame de Cintre. He was evidently her brother. The
young man, on his side, had made a rapid inspection of Newman's person.
He had taken the card and was about to enter the house with it when
another figure appeared on the threshold--an older man, of a fine
presence, wearing evening dress. He looked hard at Newman, and Newman
looked at him. "Madame de Cintre," the younger man repeated, as an
introduction of the visitor. The other took the card from his hand,
read it in a rapid glance, looked again at Newman from head to foot,
hesitated a moment, and then said, gravely but urbanely, "Madame de
Cintre is not at home."

The younger man made a gesture, and then, turning to Newman, "I am very
sorry, sir," he said.

Newman gave him a friendly nod, to show that he bore him no malice, and
retraced his steps. At the porter's lodge he stopped; the two men were
still standing on the portico.

"Who is the gentleman with the dog?" he asked of the old woman who
reappeared. He had begun to learn French.

"That is Monsieur le Comte."

"And the other?"

"That is Monsieur le Marquis."

"A marquis?" said Christopher in English, which the old woman
fortunately did not understand. "Oh, then he's not the butler!"

CHAPTER IV

Early one morning, before Christopher Newman was dressed, a little old
man was ushered into his apartment, followed by a youth in a blouse,
bearing a picture in a brilliant frame. Newman, among the distractions
of Paris, had forgotten M. Nioche and his accomplished daughter; but
this was an effective reminder.

"I am afraid you had given me up, sir," said the old man, after many
apologies and salutations. "We have made you wait so many days. You
accused us, perhaps, of inconstancy of bad faith. But behold me at last!
And behold also the pretty Madonna. Place it on a chair, my friend, in
a good light, so that monsieur may admire it." And M. Nioche, addressing
his companion, helped him to dispose the work of art.

It had been endued with a layer of varnish an inch thick and its frame,
of an elaborate pattern, was at least a foot wide. It glittered and
twinkled in the morning light, and looked, to Newman's eyes, wonderfully
splendid and precious. It seemed to him a very happy purchase, and he
felt rich in the possession of it. He stood looking at it complacently,
while he proceeded with his toilet, and