Page:Crotchet Castle - Peacock (1831).djvu/140

 tatious display of liberality in matters of taste; is a question, on which the learned may differ: but, after having duly deliberated on two full-sized casts of the Uranian and Pandemian Venus, in niches on each side of the chimney, and on three alabaster figures, in glass cases, on the mantelpiece, he proceeded, peirastically, to open his fire.

These little alabaster figures on the mantelpiece, Mr. Crotchet, and those large figures in the niches,—may I take the liberty to ask you what they are intended to represent?

Venus, sir; nothing more, sir; just Venus.

May I ask you, sir, why they are there?