His next process was to work into the wood with a fine soft brush a solution formed of oils, resinous gums, and driers. After he had saturated the worm-eaten wood with this, driving it well home to the back of the oiled surface, he left it to dry till the following day, when a similar process was gone through, with the addition of a little cement. What remained of the honeycombed rotten wood had by this time become fixed and firm――there was no fear of its crumbling into powder. On the third day he mixed up his patent solution as he termed it. This consisted, like the first coating, of oils, resinous gums, driers, and a larger proportion of cement. Warming the whole in an iron ladle he poured its contents on the back of the picture. This, like the rest, was left for some hours to set, and on the following day he poured on more of the same composition, until the whole of the injuries to the wood were filled up. This last process was witnessed by Mr. Jakyl and the footman, both of whom professed to be deeply interested in the proceedings. Lord Ethalwood himself examined the work after Peace had left, and expressed himself well satisfied with it as far as it had gone. In a day or two the composition was set as hard as a rock, and our hero lifted up the frame from the plaster bed, not, it must be confessed, without some anxiety. As he expected he found a number of small holes, about the size of a pin’s head, made by his composition on the painting itself. Luckily these were chiefly in the background of the picture, only two being observable on the face of the dead Gervase Lord Ethalwood. Peace removed the panel from its frame――it was as firm and solid as a piece of slate――he placed it on an easel and looked carefully at its surface. “Well,” said Mr. Jakyl, “it’s all right, with the exception of those ugly spots.” “It was impossible to avoid showing these; the fact is the decay in another year or so would have gone so far as to destroy entirely the whole of the picture. We may think ourselves lucky it’s no worse,” observed Peace. “Yes, I suppose so, but his lordship will think them a great disfigurement,” observed the butler. “You had better ask his lordship to have a look at it.” “I am very well satisfied with the work.” Lord Ethalwood was communicated with. He accompanied his butler into the picture gallery. He glanced at the portrait of his great ancestor, whose features were as dingy and faded as they well could be; this was more especially observable as the representation of the old nobleman was brought to the light. “I hope your lordship will be pleased with my work,” said Peace. “It has been one of the most difficult tasks that I have ever undertaken; but you wil find, I think, my lord, that you have now a picture more endurable than any in your gallery.” “Yes, it does you great credit,” returned the nobleman; “great credit, I admit. But these spots, they are sad blemishes.”