Mrs. Stillwell half-rose from her chair.
“Oh, thank you very much, thank you very much!” she said hastily.
“Purely a matter of business, madam. You may not be aware that in these times buying pictures is a somewhat dangerous operation.”
“Oh, indeed! I didn’t know.”
Mrs. Stillwell blanched at the word “dangerous.”
“I mean, we may be compelled to keep them for a considerable time. It’s not easy to find purchasers.”
“No, I suppose not, Mr. MacTavish.”
“You are still unable to fix a price, Mrs. Stillwell?”
“I really—I—no, I don’t think so. I have no idea what the value of the pictures is.”
“Pictures have no value, madam; they are worth just what they can be sold for, neither more nor less.”