Page:The Van Roon (IA thevanroon00snaiiala).pdf/39

 from darting at the young man a gleam of triumph. It was clear that Uncle Si believed no more in the windmill, not to mention the trees and the water than did she.

A start had been made, but William confessed to a fear that it might be a long job to get it clean.

"And when you get it clean," said his master, "what do you expect to find, eh?—that's if you're lucky enough to find anything."

"I don't quite know," said William frankly.

"Neither do I," S. Gedge Antiques scratched a cheek of rather humorous cynicism. And then in sheer expansion of mood, he went to the length of winking at his niece. "Perhaps, boy," he said, "you'll find that Van Roon that was cut out of its frame at the Louvre in the Nineties, and has never been seen or heard of since."

"Was there one, sir?" asked William, interested and alert.

The old man took up the evening paper, and began to read. "Canvas sixteen inches by twelve—just about your size, eh? One of the world's masterpieces. Large reward for recovery been on offer for more than twenty-five years by French Government—but not claimed yet seemingly. Said to be finest Van Roon in existence. Now's your chance, boy." A second time S. Gedge Antiques winked at his niece; and then folding back the page of the Evening News, he handed it to William, with the air of a very sly dog indeed. "See for yourself. Special article. Mystery of Famous Missing Picture. When you find the signature of Mynheer Van Roon in the corner of this masterpiece