Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-15
~ rcoxTIxrED.I
THE MAN OF ALMONACID.

copyists who live BY all great galleries.
And something upon which lit one day in
his room persuaded me for a time that this
was the case, few as were the works in
Toledo that could pay for the labor of copy
ing. Il was a picture, and the only one
Jaw at any time in his possession, save the
somber Landscape Of which | have spoken.
had run short of chrome yellow, and
hearing him go to his room followed to
ask him if he could let me have some Il
suppose 1 cannot get any chrome yellow IN
Toletlor' began before was well in the
room, nor anywhere nearer than MadridY7
He was kneeling On the fioor. but sprang
up 50 quickly at the sound OF my voice that
fastened TO apologize for entering with
out knocking. He did not seern, at once.
to understand me. He had been porting
over something placed On the ground where
IL would catch the best light, and his first
aim appeared TO be ~ move 50 as 10 hide
this from me What is ia he cried harsily
What do you want. Even by that light
could see that his face was pale.
My dear fellow I said, not trying to
hide my surprise, II am sorry that I entered
without ceremony, and | have told you So
| came in for nothing in the world but to
ask you if any chrome yellow can be got
L-sitfl lttdH Ststltat vas " Iuli tt
wants that, seeing the door was Unattached,
did not knock at it.
Was it uulatchedF he asked, CHANGING at
me askance.
/ shrugged my shoulder, '-Iooa, Tor your
self" said crirtly
He stepped forward and saw what | had
already noticei-that the bolt was saot. but
not into the socket Something like stiied
curse escaped him. He turned. muttering
( that could only get the material | needed
| In Madrid
fThat is unfortunate But what have YOU
| got here" | asked, advancing a step into the
room What capital bit Of painting! 1t
/ is Ribera, il it notf II must be,n And
/ forgetting in my eagerness everything save
1 that had before singularly good copy
] Of fine picture, | actually waved him
aside when he would have interposed. NO
| one but Ribera," / cried, stooIing over it.
could paint those lights and shadows! No
one 1t is genuine Spagnoletto for a hun
| dredI-
1T Is n copyn burst fr ON him in a tone Of
vivid contradiction.
"A copy" | repeated after him in wonder
"A copyl Of course 1T is So I supposed.
| Riberas do not grow on every bush. my
friend. | meant that the original was Ri
bera, and not merely Of his school But now
you speak of it, and | went down on my
knees ARE you so sure that it is a copy.
How bright are these high lights yet how
mellow And see the depth of the coioring
here, and the tawny tone over all! BY
heavens" | said, rising and facing him
abruptly, sit is not copy!'
sit is" he cried furiously; II say it isl
Do Riberas grow on every bush, madmanr'
Tho xtorI n nd tho ba inf
sobered me at once II beg your pardon"
said, II forgot myself | am sorry for it,
Bnt the opinion | have uttered is my opinion
still. And If | do not make a mistake
went on cycling him shrewdly, sit is yours,
too fancy, my friend that you had lust
made the discovery when | came in, and that
you dared hardly to entertain it. 1t is nc
wonder that such thing threw you Off your
| balance
For he was trembling still, and CHANGING
from me to the painting and back again in a
distraught fashion Yes" he said at length
getting out his words with difficulty, IL
thought it possible, just possible, but how
very, very improbable
Yes, very improbable, if, as I suppose
you bought the picture for n copy. But
where did you get it, | asked hrskly
thought that was beginning to understand
him.
II bought it from priest for an old song
at Almonacid"
AT Almonacidn
He moved uneasly, MS if he would have
recalled his last word But it was too late
and he nodded assent Then after all il
was you whom | saw that dayr | com
mented. You had just bought it, | sup
pose
ayes, | had n doubt about it them
at is a strange story, but strange things
happen" | said, watching him narrowly
at is true
or course pretended to believe him. and
seeing clearly that he wished me gone | ok
myself to my room. In part | did beliey /
him, only ! thought it strange that an arts,
of his kidney should be- 50 greatly ashamed OF
having outwitted an old monk: 50 greatly
ashamed H. to tell the story of his ceycrnesS
in that hang dog fashion. 1t crossed my
mind that | might he wrong in my Judgment
of the picture. 1t might be that the st
Chrstop her was only copy after all, and
| Client himself had made it, and was ever
then when broke in upon him having it out
with his conscience whether he should pass il
Off for an original or not. That was posi-
bic: hut to me he had been friend in need
aud IT WAS no busiacSS of mine.
The ucNt day, the eth of January, was tc
be the In of my stay in Toledo | had al
but finished the sketches | required aac
il the truth must he told | longed to bt
away. The stiffness of the place haunted
me. hated the huge square alcnzar which
lowered over all the Moorish gatcwavs. tn,
hundred silent churches BY noon | hao
made nn end of my work and hastily put
ting aside my materials I called jock an,
started for long ramhle over the hills
where tn, nlclrir d 4 not bar the sunshine
th,,,,h IL v1, i.n....silln To ret ont of SIGH
Of tiituot trf,ir, until darkness droy,
mo la. i, into ttr to,yn.
lhoh saw NJ once that there was some
thinT StfanS' on FOOT. In the streets was al
m'"ohted hustle "hi"h rather gre" than les
Sehed Is l apPr"'r"e' the MI iie OF th'
Town hh"tS 81 people carving la%pu
passed hurrhIiN or $1,000 together al th'
street corners ne Hoc'do'er was thfoiged
aS-ih par curious ana IN part ahh"N'd -
was puShlhs my way through '"e crowd .
CLOCK struck y, amt SET III motion oN .ha'
signal tue IN Is IA every tower hurs' me
sound WIS "f'"-u' "a " S'ih's'i" mac
JUST uihe 10 wonder what II meant ""ef
as uy magic tne "flShe gniie "i Il nun