The Colonel began to slap this pocket and that one, and feel here and there and everywhere, muttering:
“What have I done with that wallet?—let me see—um—not here, not there —Oh, I must have left it in the kitchen; I’ll just run and—”
“No you won’t—you’ll stay right where you are. And you’re going to disgorge, too—this time.”
Washington innocently offered to go and look. When he was gone the Colonel said:
“The fact is, I’ve got to throw myself on your indulgence just this once more, Suggs; you see the remittances I was expecting—”
“Hang the remittances—it’s too stale—it won’t answer. Come!”
The Colonel glanced about him in despair. Then his face lighted; he ran to the wall and began to dust off a peculiarly atrocious chromo with his handkerchief. Then he brought it reverently, offered it to the collector, averted his face and said:
“Take it, but don’t let me see it go. It’s the sole remaining Rembrandt that—”
“Rembrandt be damned, it’s a chromo.”
“Oh, don’t speak of it so, I beg you. It’s the only really great original, the only supreme example of that mighty school of art which—”