“Ze tail of ze R. is a little faint, hein!” was what he said.
“But it is a tail, Mussewer,” said S. Gedge Antiques in a robust voice.
“And it is an R,” said polite Mr. Thornton, as he bent over the picture.
“You can bet your life on that,” said S. Gedge Antiques.
M. Duponnet did not seem inclined to wager anything so valuable as his life. After a little hesitation, which involved further minute examination through his glass, he was ready to take the ‘R’ for granted. But he went on to deplore the fact that the picture was without a pedigree.
“A pedigree, Mussewer!” It was now the turn of S. Gedge Antiques to rub his nose.
M. Duponnet succinctly explained, with the air of a man expounding a commonplace in the world of art, that Van Roons were so few, their qualities so rare, their monetary value so considerable, that as soon as one came into the market its history was eagerly scrutinised. And should one suddenly appear that previously had not been known to exist it would have to run the gauntlet of the most expert criticism.
“May be, Mussewer!” S. Gedge Antiques wagged a dour head. “But that’s not going to alter the fact that this be-yew-ti-ful thing is a genuine Van Roon.”
In a manner of speaking it would not, agreed M. Duponnet, but it might detract considerably from its market value.
“That’s as may be.” The old man suddenly assumed quite a high tone.