“‘Would—fifteen guineas be too much?’
“‘Fifteen!’ I said.
“‘I should take great pains with it—it will be a long task,’ he said eagerly; and there was trouble in the wrinkles of his forehead. ‘But if you think it too much—’
“‘I think it an absurd price, sir,’ I said testily, for Smith had said he was very poor. ‘Why, my friend Wilson gave four hundred for a bit of a scrap of canvas—’
“‘By a very clever artist, sir,’ he said, with a grave smile.
“‘Look here,’ I said, ‘Mr—Mr—Grantly. You make a good picture of it, and I’ll give you fifty guineas.’
“He flushed, and look pained.
“‘Less than half would pay me well, sir,’ he said.
“‘Tut, tut! stuff man! Smith told me you were poor and hard up. You always will be if you are not more of a man of business.’
“‘Sir!’ he exclaimed, rising and looking at me angrily, ‘I came here expecting the treatment—’