Gurner prided himself on his knowledge. To be unable to point out the identity of any person in the town was to ruin a reputation. He paused abruptly from the stroke he was contemplating.
"Custance, did you say?"
"Yes; Custance, an artist."
"There is a grey man of that name at the 'Fisherman's Retreat.' He is a bit of an artist, they tell me. I will ask Cowley," he said.
A few days later he found the secretary in his office.
"I have found out all about that artist man," he said.
"Custance? Does he know anything about art?"
"Do you know anything about law? He's a classic winner, the very deuce of a top-notcher. He's been hung over and over again. You can't teach him anything about art," replied Gurner.
"I wonder if he would lecture for us?"