r all. Didn't he back his cleverness in disguise
against the wits of the whole town? And didn't the slop-shop man put up
the stakes? And didn't he just win in a canter? I should rather think
he did! Of course it was a bet, and a mighty good one at that. Gad!
Crayon, it's the best thing that's been done in New York for years.
It's what I call first-class cheek. I couldn't have done it better,
sir, myself!"

Thus it fell out that half an hour after Jaune got back to his studio
from that memorable walk to the Gansevoort market, he had the
breath-taking-away felicity of booking a thousand-dollar order, and of
receiving such obviously trustworthy assurances of many more orders
that his wildest hopes of success in a moment were resolved into
substantial realities. When he was alone again he certainly would have
believed that he had been dreaming but for the fact that Mr. Badger
Brush had insisted upon paying half the price of the picture down in
advance; for whatever this good-hearted, horsey gentleman did, he did
thoroughly well. The crisp notes, more than Jaune ever had seen
together in all his life before--save once, when he took a dealer's
check for ten dollars to a bank and looked through the wire screen
while the bank man haughtily cashed it--lay on the table where Mr.
Badger Brush had left them; and their blissful presence proved that his
happiness was not a dream, but real.

From the corner into which, loathingly, he had kicked it, he drew forth
the bundle containing "The Marquis Suit." With a certain solemnity he
resumed these garments of price in which he had suffered so much
torture, and, being clad, boldly presented himself to Madame Carthame
with a formal demand for her daughter's hand. And in view of the sudden
and prodigious change that had come over M. d'Antimoine's fortunes,
almost was Madame Carthame persuaded that the matrimonial plans which
she had laid out for her daughter might be changed. Yet did she
hesitate before announcing that their Median and Persian quality might
be questioned: for the hope that Rose might be a countess lay very
close to Madarne Carthame's heart. However, her determination was
shaken, which was a great point gained.

And presently--for Jaune's star was triumphantly in the ascendant--it
was completely destroyed. The instrument of its destruction was Mr.
Badger Brush's groom, Stumps.

Stumps was a talkative creature, and whenever he came down to Jaune's
studio, as he very ofte