Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25

case is kept locked, and / always carry the key"
"Was that the only copy of the book?" my
uncle asked
"Thc only copy. 1t was in manuscript, but the
leaves were bound like an ordinary book. Ii
the book be gone the loss is irreparable."
when did you see it last?"
| "About month ago. l should say. It's usual
place is there, third from the end on the top
shelf Whoever took it away did not wish its
removal to be noticed, for he has filed up the
gap with book identical in color and binding,
SO that I thought at first it was the very book,
"By the way" he said presently, "I shall short
| ly have the pleasure of introducing you to
genius. I'm waiting up for him now. he is
coming by the last train"
''Who is the genius?" my uncle inquired with a
smile.
'"That italian artist whose picture The Fall of
Caesar made such sensation in Paris last
spring.
1 was so surprised that knocked over a
branched candlestick by my side and nearly set
the tablecloth on fire.
"He is spending Christmas here" said Sir
Hugh. "In fact he has been living at the Abbey
for the last two months. He went to London
this week to get some artistic material. He a
painting picture for me-"
"What is the subject" my uncle asked
| 'I left that to him." Sir Hugh answered. art
lists naturally prefer not to be fettered in mat
ters of that sort, and they always do best what
they like best. But he calls this new picture
"'Modesta, the Christian Martyr" inter
rupted
eyes" said Sir Hugh, surprised "How on
earth did you know? 1 was not aware that he
had told any one but me-"
"He told me himself" I explained. eve are
friends Of his. At least we met him at Rivoh
last summer and he told us he had commission
for picture with leave to choose his own sub
ject. You must be the man who gave him the
commission he was referring to-"
$50 you know him." said the Baronet regret.
fully. 'I am disappointed. thought 1 had a
pleasure in store for you, and l am forestalled.
Yes; that's it, Modesto, the Christian Martyr.
is to be the picture of the year. He stipulated
that he should exhibit it before finally handing
it over to me, and of course | was quite agree
able. / have fitted up studio for him in the
Nuns Tower, that gray tower connected with the
east wing Of the Abbey by cloister. It's lone
ly sort Of place, but he seems to prefer it to any
other room in the Abbey, and he certainly is free
from interruption there"
"Wel hope for your sake the picture will
be a success" said my uncle, suggesting that he
did not at all how it might affect the artists
career "Do you think it will equal his last?"
"I can't say. I haven't seen it," Then, no.
ticing our surprise, Sir Hugh explained. "You
see his studio is sort of holy shrine into which
only the high priest of art is allowed to enter.
The door is closed to every one-even to me"
"'WeI it is contrary to his usual practice" my
uncle said drily. eve haven't found him back
ward in talking about his work, have we'
Frank?"
II don't think modesty is disease with him, !"
1 admitted. "Do you know whether he was as
secretive about his Fall Of Caesar before he
sprung it on an admiring world :?
"I believe he was. Permitted none to enter
his studio till the work finished. Let me
see you were in Paris last spring. VI course yoa
saw the great pictureE
''No, we haven't seen it," my uncle replied.
"Have you?
sFHave II" said the Baronet. looking much
astonished as if he had been asked whether he
knew the alphabet. "My dear fellow, what are
you talking about? Don't you know the picture
| is here?"
'EHere?" was the simultaneous ejaculation Of
my uncle and myself
| ''Here In this house. In my gallery"
| s'Did you buy it from the Baron?" I asked.
"The Baron? What Baron? don't under
stand you. I saw the picture last summer In
Paris. was struck with it like everybody else,
and offered Angelo $4,000 for it,"
(which offer he accepted" said my uncle.
| (Which offer he accepted-after delay of n
day or two"
@You purchased it direct from Angelo?" said I.
| "Direct."
"Strange!"
'eWhat is there so strange in the transaction"
"Do you know I said, Chat when we saw
| Angelo at Rivoli and expressed desre-or, to
be more correct when Daphne expressed desire
to see his picture, he told her it impossible
he had sold it to some Spanish hidalgo."
''He must have been dreaming, then," returned
Sir Hugh "I was the first purchaser and the
last"
':When YOU were at Paris I asked, "did you
| hear ANYTHING of fracas between Angelo and a
military officer in connection with this pcture?"
eyes, remember the affair very well"
| "Can YOU tell me the name of the offcer?
''No, he was never heard of again. ! think lie
received an order that very day to rejoin his regi-
ment. It was that fracas believe, that led to
my becoming the possessor of the picture"
GLOW was that?"
| "l had offered Angelo $4,000 for it, which he
refused He could gain more by exhibiting it, he
said. However, after this affaV' with the officer,
Il at the price | had named. He explained his
change of mind by what seemed to me an absurd
statement A clioue of artists, jealous of his
success, had vowed to destroy his picture"
The Baronet's butler who was lingering about
under pretense of smoothing the cloth, now joined
in the conversation with the freedom of an old
servant,
81 beg your pardon, Sir Hugh, but are you
talking Of Mr.. Vasari's picture"
"oThat is exactly what we are doing, Fr1in."
The white-haired old man shook his head.
| "Why. what have you got to say about it,
Fruin?" asked his master with considerable sur
prise. :.
The old servant shook his head once more.
"Theres something very queer about that pic
ture.'
This was my opinion, too, and listened with
breathess interest to the buffers words.
"My bedroom-as you know, Sir Hugh--is over
one end of the gallery. and ever since that pic.
ture of Mr.. Vasars was put into it have heard
| ..,Lk do II m walking