eeds from the absurd
notion he has about art, and from the fact that he has constructed a
system which is utterly worthless. I know well enough that he has no
opinion of me, which I readily pardon in him, since he cannot throw any
doubt on my honourably acquired fame.' Berthold had felt as if the
Maltese had touched a sore place in his soul, like a beneficent
physician, only for the purpose of probing it and healing it; but he
soon drove this notion from his mind, and worked on happily as he had
done before.

"The success of this large picture, which was universally admired, gave
him courage to begin a companion to it. Hackert himself selected one
of the most lovely spots in the gorgeous vicinity of Naples; and, as
the first picture had represented sunset, this landscape was to show
the effect of sunrise. He had a number of strange trees, a number of
vineyards, and, above all, a good deal of mist to paint.

"Berthold was sitting on a large flat stone, in this very spot,
completing the sketch of the great picture after nature. 'Bravo--well
done!' said a voice near him. He looked up. The Maltese was viewing
his work, and added, with a sarcastic smile, 'You have only forgotten
one thing, my dear young friend. Only look yonder, at the wall of the
distant vineyard; the one covered with green tendrils. The door is
half-open, don't you see? You must represent that with its proper
shading. The half-open door makes a surprising effect!'

"'You are joking, sir,' exclaimed Berthold, 'and without reason. Such
accidental circumstances are by no means so contemptible as you
imagine, and for that very reason my master loves to employ them. Only
recollect the suspended white cloth in the landscape of one of the
Dutch painters, that could not be omitted without marring the general
effect. You, however, seem to be no friend to landscape painting in
general; and, as I have given myself up to it with heart and soul, I
beg of you to let me go on working in quiet.'

"'You are much mistaken, young man,' said the Maltese. 'I tell you
again that a good deal might be made of you, for your works visibly
prove an unwearied endeavour to attain the highest; but that,
unfortunately, you will never attain, since the path that you have
taken does not lead to it. Only mark what I tell you. Perhaps I may
succeed in kindling that flame in your soul, which you, senseless as
you are, are endeavouring to smother, and in making it flash u