Page:The Van Roon (IA thevanroon00snaiiala).pdf/166

 begin with, S. Gedge Antiques ceremoniously handed the picture to Louis Quinze-legs who, with a fine gesture, handed it to Monsieur Duponnet.

The Frenchman examined the canvas back and front through his own private glass, scratched portions of it with his nail, pursed his lips, rubbed his nose, and no doubt would have shrugged his shoulders had not that been such a jejune thing for a Frenchman to do.

With a deference that was quite impressive, Mr. Thornton and S. Gedge Antiques waited for M. Duponnet to say something.

"Ze tail of ze R. is a little faint, hein!" was what he said.

"But it is a tail, Mussewer," said S. Gedge Antiques in a robust voice.

"And it is an R," said polite Mr. Thornton, as he bent over the picture.

"You can bet your life on that," said S. Gedge Antiques.

M. Duponnet did not seem inclined to wager anything so valuable as his life. After a little hesitation, which involved further minute examination through his glass, he was ready to take the 'R' for granted. But he went on to deplore the fact that the picture was without a pedigree.

"A pedigree, Mussewer!" It was now the turn of S. Gedge Antiques to rub his nose.

M. Duponnet succinctly explained, with the air of a man expounding a commonplace in the world of art, that Van Roons were so few, their qualities so rare, their monetary value so considerable, that as soon as one came into the market its history was eagerly scrutinised. And should one suddenly appear that pre