Lady Merivale, who looked upon Mr. Vermont as one of her ancestors would have regarded the Court jester, smiled indifferently.
"It all depends on the point of view," she said. "I have paid three hundred pounds for it."
Mr. Vermont looked up with an air of innocent surprise; but a keen observer might have been tempted to regard it as one of satirical enjoyment.
"Three hundred pounds! I daresay these gentlemen, good judges all, have declared it a bargain?" He motioned to the little group on the other side of Lord Merivale.
"Not at all," returned his hostess. "On the contrary, Mr. Leroy declares it an imposture."
Vermont raised his eyebrows.
"Indeed," he said. "How did he detect the fraud?"
"By the one weak point," said Colman. "That dagger; Rubens never lived to see such a dagger as that, so could not possibly have painted it!"
Mr. Vermont smiled, an approving smile that seemed to mock the picture as if it were a living thing.
"Capital," he said. "The rogue who palmed this forgery on you was evidently not a student of the antique. Poor fellow, how was he to guess who was to be his judge? You will, of course, institute proceedings against him, or send the picture back?"