Jack saw these looks; but from his corner he could not see the sketch, nor had he any suspicion of its subject. All else that he noted was the flush of triumph, or it may have been whisky, or just possibly both, on the pale, fringed face of Impressionism. He held out his hand for the half-sheet of paper on which the sketch had been made. "I hope it won't offend you," exclaimed the artist, hesitating. "Offend me! Why should it? Let's have a look!" And he looked for more than a minute at the five curves and a beard which had expressed to quicker eyes the quintessence of his own outward and visible personality. At first he could make nothing of them; even when an interpretation dawned upon him, his face was puzzled as he raised it to the trio hanging on his words. "It won't do, mister," said the Duke reluctantly. "You'll never get saplings like them," tapping the five curves with his forefinger, "to hold a nest like that," putting his thumb on the beard, "and don't you believe it." There was a moment's silence. Then the Impressionist said thickly: "Give me that sketch." Jack handed it back. In another moment it was littering the ground in four pieces, and the door had banged behind the indignant draftsman. "What on earth have I done?" cried the Duke, aghast. "You have offended Llewellyn," replied Claude shortly. "How? By what I said? I'll run after him this minute and apologise. I never meant to hurt his feelings. Where's that stove-pipe hat?" "Let _me_ go," said Stubbs, getting up. "I understand the creative animal; it is thin-skinned; but I'll tell our friend what you say." "I wish you would. Tell him I meant no harm. And fetch him down with you just whenever you can come." "Thanks--that will be very pleasing. I daresay August will be our best time, but we shall let you know. I'll put it all right with Ivor; but these creative asses (saving your presence, Lafont) never can see a joke." "A joke!" cried Jack, when he and Claude were alone. "Stubbs is ironical," said Claude severely. "Look here," said the Duke, "what are you givin' us, old boy? Seems to me you clever touchers have been getting at a cove between you. Where does this joke come in, eh?"