"Here," said Patching, "you are at about the same distance from the desert as the front row of spectators will be. Now look at it critically."
Marcus shaded his eyes with his left hand, cocked his head over his right shoulder, in the true critical style, and gazed on the scene.
"Do you see the harmony--the TONE, I may say--in the desert?" asked Patching, after a short pause.
"I think I do," responded Marcus, willing to oblige the artist.
"And the spiritual, or INNER meaning of the sky?"
"Ye-yes. It is quite perceptible."
"These are the effects of severe simplicity. But you must understand that a single mis-stroke of the brush would have spoiled all the harmony in the desert, or reduced the sky to a mere inexpressive field of blue vapor. Why? Genius alone can achieve such grand results by such apparently simple means. You comprehend?"
"Perfectly," said Marcus Wilkeson.
"Then I shall take a real pleasure in showing you more of the panorama which is already completed and rolled up. With this idea of severe simplicity in your mind, you will be prepared to appreciate the work,"
"I believe I have already remarked, that Mr. Wilkeson is a capitalist, and comes here expressly to look at the panorama," said Tiffles; with a wink at the artist.