"Itisperhapsworthmorethanthat，"andtheFrenchmanshruggedhisshouldersasheturnedaway.
， andthatRubenswasapainter？Orwasitthathehadfailedtohearhimsaythatitcosthimfiftythousanddollars？Kalewasaccustomedtoseeingpeoplebobtheirheadsandopentheireyeswhenhesaidfiftythousanddollars；therefore，
"Don'tyoulikeit？"heasked.
"Verymuchindeed，"replieddeLesseps，"."
Theyrummagedthroughthepictures， ， 'faceradiatedexcitement， andseveraltimesheglancedfromthewatercolortotheRubensasifmentallycomparingtheexquisitelypenciledandcoloredmodernworkwiththebold， masterlytechnicoftheold.
Kalemisunderstoodthesilence."Idon'tthinkmuchofthisonemyself，"heexplainedapologetically."It'saWhistler， andallthat， anditcostmefivethousanddollars， andIsortofhadtohaveit， butstillitisn'？"
"Ithinkitisperfectlywonderful！"repliedtheFrenchmanenthusiastically."Itistheessence， thesuperlative， ，"andheturnedtofaceKale，"formetomakeacopyofthat？Ihavesomeslightskillinpaintingmyself， anddaresayIcouldmakeafairlycreditablecopyofit."
."Why， certainly，"hereplied."Iwillhaveitsentuptothehotel， andyoucan-"
"No， no， no！"interrupteddeLessepsquickly."Iwouldn'-thisroomislargeandairyandlight， andbesidesitisquiet-"
"Justasyoulike，"saidKalemagnanimously."Imerelythoughttheotherwaywouldbemostconvenientforyou."
DeLessepsdrewnear， andlaidonehandonthemillionaire'sarm."Mydearfriend，"hesaidearnestly，"ifthesepicturesweremypictures， Ishouldn'-"
"Sixhundredandeighty-seventhousanddollars，"volunteeredKaleproudly.
"Andsurelytheymustbewellprotectedhereinyourhouseduringyourabsence？"
