e worst he can do for me,
you see, is to refuse it."

Lord Theign, who practically had his back turned and was fairly dandling
about in his impatience, tossed out to the terrace the cigarette he had
but just lighted. Yet he faced round to reply: "It's the very first time
in the history of this house (a long one, Mr. Bender) that a picture, or
anything else in it, has been offered----!"

It was not imperceptible that even if he hadn't dropped Mr. Bender
mightn't have been markedly impressed. "Then it must be the very first
time such an offer has failed."

"Oh, it isn't that we in the least press it!" Lord Theign quite
naturally laughed.

"Ah, I beg your pardon--I press it very hard!" And Lord John, as taking
from his face and manner a cue for further humorous license, went so far
as to emulate, though sympathetically enough, their companion's native
form. "You don't mean to say you don't feel the interest of that
Moretto?"

Mr. Bender, quietly confident, took his time to reply. "Well, if you had
seen me up on that chair you'd have thought I did."

"Then you must have stepped down from the chair properly impressed."

"I stepped down quite impressed with that young man."

"Mr. Crimble?"--it came after an instant to Lord John. "With _his_
opinion, really? Then I hope he's aware of the picture's value."

"You had better ask him," Mr. Bender observed.

"Oh, we don't depend here on the Mr. Crimbles!" Lord John returned.

Mr. Bender took a longer look at him. "Are you aware of the value
yourself?"

His friend resorted again, as for the amusement of the thing, to their
entertainer. "Am I aware of the value of the Moretto?"

Lord Theign, who had meanwhile lighted another cigarette, appeared,
a bit extravagantly smoking, to wish to put an end to his effect of
hovering aloof.

"That question needn't trouble us--when I see how much Mr. Bender
himself knows about it."

"Well, Lord Theign, I only know what that young man puts it at." And
then as the others waited, "Ten thousand," said Mr. Bender.

"Ten thousand?" The owner of the work showed no emotion.

"Well," said Lord John again in Mr. Bender's style, "what's the matter
with ten thousand?"

The subject of his gay tribute considered. "There's nothing the matter
with ten thousand."

"Then," Lord Theign asked, "is there anything the matter with the
picture?"

"Yes, sir--I guess there is."

It gave an upward push to his lordship's eyebrows. "But what in the