He arranged his tie, pulled out his cuffs and opened the door leading to a little waiting-room.
"Ah! Good morning, Mr. Lundell! Very glad to see you! Please come in! How are you? I had locked my door for a few moments."
It really was Lundell; Lundell dressed in the height of fashion like a shop assistant; he wore a watch-chain, rings, gloves and overshoes.
"I am not calling at an inconvenient time, I hope?"
"Not at all! Do you think, Mr. Lundell, that you will be able to finish it by to-morrow?"
"Must it be finished by to-morrow?"
"It absolutely must! It will be a red-letter day for the crèche to-morrow; Mrs. Falk will publicly present my portrait to the institution, to be hung in the dining-room."
"Then we must not let any obstacles stand in our way," replied Lundell, taking an easel and an almost finished canvas from a cupboard. "If you will sit to me for a few moments, sir, I will give the picture the finishing touches."
"With all the pleasure in the world."
Falk sat down in a chair, crossed his legs, threw himself into the attitude of a statesman and tried to look aristocratic.