"You are surprised," he observed, sighing. "But when a man has to mend his fortunes he must mend them with what tools he can. Nor am I ashamed of my trade." "There is no need, Mr. Flemington," replied the other, with the measured benevolence he had sometimes used upon the bench; "what you tell me does you honour--much honour, sir." "Then you did not take me for a painter any more than for a Scot?" said Archie, smiling at his host. "I did not, sir," said the judge shortly. He was not accustomed to be questioned by his witnesses and he had the uncomfortable sensation of being impelled, in spite of a certain prejudice, to think moderately well of his guest. "I have heard tell of your lordship very often," said the latter, suddenly, "and I know very well into what good hands I have fallen. I could wish that all the world was more like yourself." He turned his head and stared wistfully at the coals. Balnillo could not make out whether this young fellow's assurance or his humility was the real key-note to the man. But he liked some of his sentiments well enough. Archie wore his own hair, and the old man noticed how silky and fine the brown waves were in the firelight. They were so near his hand as their owner leaned forward that he could almost have stroked them. "Are you going further than Montrose?" he inquired. "I had hoped to cozen a little employment out of Aberdeen," replied Flemington, "but it is a mere speculation. I have a gallery of the most attractive canvases with me--women, divines, children, magistrates, provosts--all headless and all waiting to see what faces chance and I may fit on to their necks. I have one lady--an angel, I assure you, my lord!--a vision of green silk and white roses--shoulders like satin--the hands of Venus!" Balnillo was further bewildered. He knew little about the arts and nothing about artists. He had looked at many a contemporary portrait without suspecting that the original had chosen, as sitters often did, an agreeable ready-made figure from a selection brought forward by a painter, on which to display his or her countenance. It was a custom which saved the trouble of many sittings and rectified much of the niggardliness or over-generosity of Nature. "I puzzle you, I see," added Archie, laughing, "and no doubt the hair of Van Dyck would stand on end at some of our modern doings. But I am not Van Dyck, unhappily, and in common with some others I do half my business before my sitters ever see me. A client has only to choose a suitable body for his own head, and I can tell you that many are thankful to have the opportunity." "I had no idea that portraits were done like that," said Lord Balnillo; "I never heard of such an arrangement before." "But you do not think it wrong, I hope?" exclaimed Flemington, the gaiety dying out of his face. "There is no fraud about it! It is not as if a man deceived his sitter."