Page:The Van Roon (IA thevanroon00snaiiala).pdf/167

 *viously had not been known to exist it would have to run the gauntlet of the most expert criticism.

"May be, Mussewer!" S. Gedge Antiques wagged a dour head. "But that's not going to alter the fact that this be-yew-ti-ful thing is a genuine Van Roon."

In a manner of speaking it would not, agreed M. Duponnet, but it might detract considerably from its market value.

"That's as may be." The old man suddenly assumed quite a high tone.

M. Duponnet and Mr. Thornton took the picture to the other side of the shop and conferred together. So low were their voices that neither Uncle Si nor June could hear a word of what passed between them. Times and again they held the canvas to the light. They laid it on a tallboys, and pored over it; they borrowed the microscope of one another and made great show of using it; and then finally Mr. Thornton crossed the floor and said to Uncle Si, who was handling a piece of Waterford glass with the most pensive unconcern: "What's your price, Mr. Gedge?"

"Heh?" said the old man, as if emerging from a beautiful dream. "Price? You had better name one."

Excitement at this point seemed to cause June's heart to stop beating.

"The trouble is," said Mr. Thornton, "our friend, M. Duponnet, is not quite convinced that it is a Van Roon."

"But there's the signature."

"It seems to have been touched up a bit."

"Not by me," said S. Gedge Antiques, austerely.

"We don't think that for a moment," said Mr. Thornton, in a voice of honey. "But the signature is