Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-08-02
THE PAINTER AND THE MIL.
LI0NAIRE.

miRut sOme years henct, Ittcn very
high price, and was, therefore, worth Sc
curing, even at a small sacrifice. Fernet,
however, he knew, was not "a man
to make two prices, and his only
chance was cleyerly to cajole. him into
naming low figure the FIRST time. Yer
let at once saw the game of his willy
customer; he looked him in the face,
and at one glance took him in from head
to foot, estimated the length Of his
pocket, and at the same time the meas
ure of his meanness. He then said, in
resolute tone: 1
M. lie Baron, my price for full
length portrait Of you would be 10000
francs" ~It ee
"Ten thousand francsl Ny dear Yer
net, would you ruin me2 | cant give
that sum for mere portrait" !"
Vernet shrugged his shoulders. THAT
is just as you please; there is no neces-
sity to put yourself to the expense, and
it seems to be very foolish way Of
spending your money, but that is not
my affair. / wish you good morning.
M. lie Baron stood bewildered, he
wanted the portrait but he could not
make up his mind to part with so great
sum; he went home sadder, but not,
perhaps, a wiser man. he resolved to
shake off all thought of this extrava-
CANT indulgence; but it would come back
upon him; have it he must, and in less
|. than a week he was in the painter S
studio.
"Well, M. Vernet," he began, "have
you thought over the matter we were
talking about the other day2'
No, upon my word / haven't an
deed" said the painter. without suspend
ing his occupation; /" have been very
busy and as it was.a settled matter when
you left, there was no object Of thinking
Of it again. We have had pleasant
change in the weather, NJ. lie Baron,
since | saw you" added he, after a
pause.
Rothschild could scarcely conceal his
vexation, and felt more desirous than
ever to possess the object of his long
ings: r.g
Now, M. Vernet, I am still open to
arrange for that picture, and come to-
day TO offer 1000 francs for it; but mind,
not one centime more. When shall i
give you the first sitting"
"Oh, my dear sir, don't mention it
again, pray. / had the honor to name to
you my conditions. You must be good
enough to accept them as final. Good
morning, NJ. r., and he politely con-
Quoted his visitor to the door, pallet in
hand N-
"Confound the fellows impudence," "
exclaimed the disappointed millionaire,
finding himself alone on the landing.
Why, hang him, he's as obstinate as a
mule. l shant manage him after all. .
And he went away puzzled and mortified.
Another and another haggling inter-
view took place, but always with the
same niggardly policy on the part of the
banker, and the same cool indifference
on the part of the painter. A long in
terval of hesitation followed, when Baron
r., having screwed himself up to the re-
quired pitch, and resolved to have his
portrait, even at the startling sum de-
manded, again presented himself in the
painting room.
: an Vernetl" he exclaimed, you have
gained your point | give in-paint me
at your own pricei
"Paint you exclaimed Vernet, with
we'll feigned surprise; What, again2"
"Againl What do you mean2"
why, l have painted your portrait,
ever so long ago; all the time you were
sitting huxtering there, was taking
your portrait, and as you are so poor /
will make you the compliment Of it; you
are painted without any charge"
Generous mani" exclaimed the mod
ern Shylock; :" / accept where is the
magic canvas that may admire itY
"You will find it in the Prise de la
Smala, now at Versailles; it has just
been removed from my studio into its
place"
Rothschild hastened to Versailles he
rushed into the midst of the admiring
crowd eongregated before the produc-
ton Of the great artist; he searched the
surface with palpitating heart; but i'm
agine his dismay; in one corner Of the
grand picture he saw himself represented
in the figure Of Jew running away with
a casketl He hurried back to Paris, and
after reproaching Vernet with the sever
ity of his pleasantly, begged him, on
any terms to paint it out
"Iconsent,' said Vernet, but on this
condition. asked you 10000 francs to
paint your portrait, aud you could well
afford to give it me; but you bargained
with genius. though you expected and
would have received its unlimited ex-
ertions; l now demand 10000 francs to
efface it, and, if you refuse, it remains
there as q ,reminiscence of this little
joke"
Vernet was iaexorable. Rothschild
could never bring himself to draw up SO
large a check, even to undraw such
a picture, and he went out of the world
leaving behind him the equivocal me-
menIn IL.