"'Well, Mynheer,' said I at last, 'I must congratulate you; you are a lucky dog.'
"'I!' he returned, with a short ironical laugh. 'Through what sort of glasses do you look upon the world that you can utter such a prophecy?'
"'Through my own unaided eyes,' returned I. 'Are you not indeed enviable enough in this, that you have caught in your net the shy bird after which so many have followed in vain. If you only set about it rightly, the bird will grow so tame that you will be able to cage it at last.'
"He turned away: he did not wish me to see the vivid red that suffused his yellow face.
"'You don't know her,' he muttered, 'she is quite different to all others, and if I were the fool you take me to be--'
"'You would be no fool at all,' I continued, exciting myself as I went on. 'You need not of course repeat it to my wife, but by St. Katharine I swear to you, Master Jan, that were I in your place I should not long play St. Anthony's part. I would do everything on earth to deliver that poor child from her purgatory--'
"'And to lead her into a Paradise where such an Adam--get off with you,' said he, with a very unpolite gesture.
"But I knew how to take him; I drew nearer and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"'If it is disagreeable to you, I will not say another word, but can you suppose that a certain Hans Lutz--'
"He sprang from his low seat and ran distractedly up and down the studio.