"There she goes—there goes Her Grace," said Sir Patricius; "that highly intellectual lady; the rara avis—the black swan of literature of this our day—my right noble patroness; shining amid her compeers a bright star of intellectual, and literary, and domestic worth, and rich indeed in all,
'Velut inter ignes
Luna minores.'"
Captain Heaviside here rejoined—"Although, Sir Patricius, I knew well that the Duchess gave with her noble hand a distinguished fortune to the Duke, yet verily I did not until now learn that Her Grace had any estate in the Minories!"
"No, no; ha, ha!" said Sir Patricius, with a most self-applauding laugh. "Oh no! nor in the Stannaries neither. But allons nous donc, mon preux chevalier! Apollo and the muses now invite us.—So, ho! to the picture gallery." To which the learned Theban and the valiant Captain now hastily ascended.
The grand picture gallery, which now they entered, was of truly magnificent dimensions, and lighted from an elevated dome. This truly splendid collection of paintings was most judiciously arranged on the walls of the superb gallery, collected and selected with a taste and discernment that spoke volumes in praise of the liberality of the distinguished collector. This splendid gallery was adorned with the chefs d'ouvres of the most ancient celebrated masters; forming, on entrance, a truly grand and most imposing coup d'œil of the different works of Reubens', "the prince of painters;" Raphael, "the divine!" Angelo, Guido, Titian, with a long and noble extended et cetera, too magnificently formidable to be here introduced.
The first painting which they approached was from the pencil of Teniers; it was that of his famous Alchymist.
"This," said Sir Patricius, pointing to the painting, "is a work of Teniers!"
"Vastly fine, indeed, Sir Patricius!—Oh, monstrous fine! grand, expressively sublime! eh! But here," added the surprised Captain, "what, ten years!—was the patient artist employed ten years thereon? Monstrous length of time! what sad solemn patience and perseverance the fellow had to be sure!—tedious faith, as the old siege of Troy!"
"No, no, my very good Captain, I did not say that the renowned artist was ten years employed in accomplishing this fine painting, but merely announced that his distinguished name was Teniers."
"Oh, a thousand pardons, Sir Patricius!—eh—ten thousand pardons! But then the painting is truly monstrous fine!—upon my s—l it is vastly fine indeed—eh!"