CHAPTER XXX.
"Pictoribus atque Poetis
Quidlibet audendi semper fuit æqua potestas."
"With commissions"—Cornelius Jagenal spoke as if Gilead Beck was a man of multitude, signifying many, and as if one commission was a thousand—"with commissions pouring in as they should, Brother Humphrey——"
"And the great Epic, the masterpiece of the century about to be published in the Grand Style, brother Cornelius, the only style which is worthy of its merits——"
"Something definite should be attempted, Humphrey——"
"You mean, brother——"
"With regard to——"
"With regard to Phillis Fleming."
They looked at each other meaningly and firmly. The little table was between them; it was past twelve o'clock; already two or three soda-water bottles were lying on it empty; and the world looked rosy to the poetic pair.