night-cap and a loose brown serge
tunic, with sleeves rolled up to the shoulder. He darted a look of
surprise at Tito, but without further notice of him stretched out his
hand to take the basket from the child, re-entered the house, and
presently returning with the empty basket, said, "How much to pay?"

"Two grossoni, Messer Piero; they are all ready boiled, my mother says."

Piero took the coin out of the leathern scarsella at his belt, and the
little maiden trotted away, not without a few upward glances of awed
admiration at the surprising young signor.

Piero's glance was much less complimentary as he said--

"What do you want at my door, Messer Greco? I saw you this morning at
Nello's; if you had asked me then, I could have told you that I see no
man in this house without knowing his business and agreeing with him
beforehand."

"Pardon, Messer Piero," said Tito, with his imperturbable good-humour;
"I acted without sufficient reflection. I remembered nothing but your
admirable skill in inventing pretty caprices, when a sudden desire for
something of that sort prompted me to come to you."

The painter's manners were too notoriously odd to all the world for this
reception to be held a special affront; but even if Tito had suspected
any offensive intention, the impulse to resentment would have been less
strong in him than the desire to conquer goodwill.

Piero made a grimace which was habitual with him when he was spoken to
with flattering suavity. He grinned, stretched out the corners of his
mouth, and pressed down his brows, so as to defy any divination of his
feelings under that kind of stroking.

"And what may that need be?" he said, after a moment's pause. In his
heart he was tempted by the hinted opportunity of applying his
invention.

"I want a very delicate miniature device taken from certain fables of
the poets, which you will know how to combine for me. It must be
painted on a wooden case--I will show you the size--in the form of a
triptych. The inside may be simple gilding: it is on the outside I want
the device. It is a favourite subject with you Florentines--the triumph
of Bacchus and Ariadne; but I want it treated in a new way. A story in
Ovid will give you the necessary hints. The young Bacchus must be
seated in a ship, his head bound with clusters of grapes, and a spear
entwined with vine-leaves in his hand: dark-berried ivy must wind about
the masts and sails, the oars must be thyr