"His assistants did only the heavy work, while Rubens furnished the design, and gave the work its finishing touches. The celebrated sculptors do not perform all the drudgery of chiselling out a statue. Wherever you go in Antwerp, you will hear of Rubens. You will find his works in all the galleries, you will visit his house in the Rue Rubens, his pictures will be shown to you in every church, and you will see his tomb in St. Jacques."
"They have Rubens on the brain, as we should say at home," laughed Paul.
"Yes, and they have it badly. From this point you have a good view of the Cathedral," added the doctor, as they paused near the statue of Rubens, where they could see the building over the tops of the trees.
"The steeple is very handsome. It is of the most beautiful and delicate workmanship you will see."
"I should think it would blow down."
"It is banded together with a framework of iron, and the stones are held together with copper bolts."
"How high is it?" asked Paul, as he gazed up at the lofty spire.
"There you have me, Paul! I don't know. In Murray's Guide-Book it is set down at four hundred and three feet. The man up in the tower there says it is four hundred and sixty-six. Other authorities put it at less than four hundred. My guide assured me it was one hundred and forty-seven French metres in height; but this, reduced to English measure, would give four hundred and eighty-three feet. My own idea is, that Murray is right," replied Dr. Winstock, as they walked over to the church.
"What's this?" asked Paul, pointing to a beautiful iron canopy in Gothic style, near the foot of the church tower.
"That's a draw-well. It is the handiwork of Quentin Matsys."