of the Great Monarchy, and I
may tell you that there is rather a small demand just now for relics of
that period. It would be wiser not to take it into the open market. I
think my client would give you as good a price as any; and I suppose
you want to get as much as you can for it now that you have made up your
mind to the sacrifice?"

Marvin suppressed a sigh, and rubbed his hands together with that forced
jocularity which had made his companion turn grave once before.

"Oh, I mean to drive a hard bargain, I can tell you!" was the reply,
with an assumption of worldly wisdom on a countenance little calculated
to wear that expression naturally.

"What did your friend in the print-shop on the Quai Voltaire mention as
a probable price?" asked Turner, carelessly.

"Well, he said he might be able to sell it for me at four thousand
francs. I would not hear of his running any risk in the matter, however.
Such a good fellow, he is. So honest."

"Yes, he is likely to be that," said Turner, with his broad smile. He
was a little sleepy after a heavy luncheon, and sipped his coffee with a
feeling of charity toward his fellow-men. "You would find lots of honest
men in the Quai Voltaire, Sep. I will tell you what I will do. Give me
the print, and I will do my best for you. Would ten thousand francs help
you out of your difficulties?"

"I do not remember saying that I was in difficulties," objected the
Reverend Septimus, with heightened colour.

"Don't you? Memory IS bad, is it not? Would ten thousand francs paint
the rectory, then?"

"It would ease my mind and sweeten my sleep at night to have half that
sum, my friend. With two hundred pounds I could face the world aequo
animo."

"I will see what I can do. This is the print, is it? I don't know
much about such things myself, but I should put the price down at ten
thousand francs."

"But the man in the Quai Voltaire?"

"Precisely. I know little about prints, but a lot about the Quai
Voltaire. Who is the lady? I presume it is a portrait?"

"It is a portrait, but I cannot identify the original. To an expert of
that period it should not be impossible, however." Septimus Marvin was
all awake now, with flushed cheeks and eyes brightened by enthusiasm.
"Do you know why? Because her hair is dressed in a peculiar way--poufs
de sentiment, these curls are called. They were only worn for a brief
period. In those days the writings of Jean Jacques Rousseau had a
certain vogue among