Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25
c N APTER XII
THE FIGuRE IN THE

THE FIGURE IN The GREY CLOAK.
| ESYVON descending next morning to the draw
! I@A ing rcom, found Angelo there before
bsSsSs me, the idol of crowd of aesthetic
tsSYH9D young ladies who adored art land es
pecially the artist) without understand
ing much about either. He was exhibiting to
their admiring gaze the contents Of his portfolio
and unless my eyesight deceived me, it was The
identical portfolio he had displayed to me on
that memorable wedding morning.
L was curious to see how he would receive
Daphne this occasion-their first meeting after
her refusal Of him; but he manifested no signs
OF embarrassment when she appeared, and ac-
knowledged her presence with an air so grave and
stately that none, seeing him, would ever have
guessed that he had at one time made passion
ate love to her
Daphne was confused and blushed little, and
was not sorry l think, when, ar the sound OF
the breakfast bell / relieved her of his presence
by escorting her to the table, taking care to put
as many feet of mahogany as I could between
her and the artist, who had for his partner the
lively Florrie.
During breakfast the conversation turned on
the mysterious appartion Of the preceding night,
and Daphne was twitted by the ladies for her
fright; but the Baronet noticing how agitated
she became and how distasteful the subject was
to her, came TO her aid, and, declaring that he
would not allow her to be teased, diverted the
conversation to another channel
"When do you expect to finish your picture?"
he said, turning to Angelo.
"Withn a few days; perhaps few hours"
Perhaps a few hours! Such an answer implied
that it was within the range of probability for
the completion Of his picture to take place on
Christmas Day-that is, on the very anniversary
Of the day on which he had finished his last mas
terpiece. This coincidence of dates was GER
tanly remarkable, and my uncle could not help
reverting to it.
"The want Of suitable model has delayed
YOUR work, I think you said," said the Baronet
to Angelo 'Dd you procure in London what
you wanted"
eyes; I have-found "a" he seemed to
hesitate as to the choice of a word-"a lovely
figure. The very ideal of what an artists model
should be-"
"What IS the subject of your picture?" inquired
Florrie.
"I am going to call it Modesto, the Christian
| Martyr 1t represents scene in the Coliseum
| A Christian maiden is breathing her last on the
sands of the arena. A Libyan hon stands proud
" over her, with one claw fixed in her breast
"What a ghastly subject" said FlorTie
"Ghastly? Yes yet such things nave been,
and It's well to recall them," replied the artist
gravely. ''You must judge my picture by the
end it is meant to accomplish. which IS not mere
vulgar sensationalism. 1t is intended as contrI-
button to religion--an aid to morality; for 1T Us
nv object to show the character of ancient pagan
ism, and from the contemplation OF the sweet
oirl-martyr men will derive nobler ideas OF the
great battle which their ancestral Christianity
had to fight" =.
The artist was now in his element. A multi
tude of questions relative to his new work we're
addressed to him from all sides. Nobody was
more attentive to his words than the doctor, OF
more curiously interrogative.
"Well," said the Baronet, giving the signal for
rising, "suppose before setting off for the church
you spend hour in the picture gallery and
view my latest addition to it"
EXPRESSIONS of delighted assent arose.
'When tell you that the addition allude TO
10 the great masterpiece of Mr.. Vasari" he added
with a gracious wave of his hand towards the
artist. "the masterpiece that set all Paris talking
last summer, we shall require no other reason Tor
visiting the gallery at once.
Pomerberino Angeles curious dealings with re-
r,rd to his famous work of art, thought to see
him betray some little confusion when 1t was
mentioned by the Baronet. He manifested no
such embarrassment, however, but gravey bowed
his acknowledgements; and Sir Hugh led the way
from the breakfast-table The artist and curate
oacb offered an arm to escort Florre. Preference
was given to AIT, and Ecclesiasticism' retired con-
founded. =, ;,
a shall put myself under your guidance" said
Florrie taking Angeles arm. You must be
INV cicerone and point out the beauties OF the
picture for me. haven't seen it yet, you know ="
'Ihe beauties! Iou uo iho WV ANN"'A -N-'
Saw the defects. rather"
every well, the defects, then" said the 'rre-
pressibie Florre. "I daresay that sounds 1ncon1-
nlmentary. but it isn't meant to be so. What is
the title of your picture, Mr.. VasariT'
"I have entitled it The Fall of Caesar " re-
pled .he artist, little confounded, thought, at
the idea that there should be any one In exist
ence Ignorant of the title of his famous work.
".The Fall of Caesar? Oh, how interesting.
What did he fall from?" she asked with an as
sumed ignorance. She uttered this rather loud
": and then, dropping her voice, she whispered
IN Daphne's ear; ''Now hear Mr.. Fontalwater
give MS lecture He's sure to. Mad on history.
Read nothing else from his cradle upwards"
And sure enough the Reverend Cyprian, on
hearing her question, at once proceeded to salts
fly her curiosity.
"Caius Julius Caesar, Miss Wyvile, was stab
bed by conspirators in the Senate House at Rome,
and fell al the base of Pompey's statue covered
with twenty-three wounds. According to Pli-
tarch the consprators were Marcus Brutus, Me-
tems Climber Cassus. Casca---
"Nv goodness Mr.. Fontalwater, what a mem
orv YOU have' cried Florrie, cutting him short
with a look of mock admiration. "You surely
don't expect me to remember all those names?
You are worse than my old governess."
| Bv this time we had entered the gallery, a
magnificent hall-long, broad, and lofty. On one
side only was the light admitted, and that
through high and deep embrasured easements.
The spaces between the windows were adorned
with the family portraits all arranged in chrono-
| logical order, beginning with a fearfully weird
daub of Richard IIPs time, and ending with n
splendid portrait of Sir Hugh.
We proceeded leisurely down the gallery, lis
tening in shame be it written, with very little
interest to the Baronet's genealogical discourse,
because all my thoughts were running on An
i. ..