_Patronising Persons (inspecting magnificent suit of russet and gilt armour)._ 'Pon my word, no idea they turned out such good work in those times--very creditable to them, really. BEFORE THE PORTRAITS. _The Uncle._ Now, TOMMY, you remember what became of KATHERINE of Aragon, I'm sure? No, no--tut--tut--_she_ wasn't executed! I'm afraid you're getting rather rusty with these long holidays. Remind me to speak to your mother about setting you a chapter or so of history to read every day when we get home, will you? _Tommy (to himself)._ It _is_ hard lines on a chap having a Sneak for an Uncle! Catch me swotting to please _him_! _'Arry._ There's old 'ENERY THE EIGHTH, you see--that's 'im right enough; him as 'ad all those wives, and cut every one of their 'eds off! _'Arriet (admiringly)._ Ah, I knew we shouldn't want a Catalogue. _The Int. P._ Wonderfully HOLBEIN'S caught the character of the man--the--er--curious compound of obstinacy, violence, and good-humour, sensuality, and--and so on. No mistaking a HOLBEIN--you can tell him at once by the extraordinary finish of all the accessories. Now look at that girdle--isn't that HOLBEIN all over? _Flippant P._ Not quite all over, old fellow. Catalogue says it's painted by PARIS BORDONE. _The Int. P._ Possibly--but it's HOLBEIN'S _manner_, and, looking at these portraits, you see at once how right FROUDE'S estimate was of the King. _F. P._ Does FROUDE say how he got that nasty one on the side of his nose? _A Visitor._ Looks overfed, don't he? _Second V. (sympathetically)._ Oh, he did himself very well; you can see that. _The Aunt._ Wait a bit, JOHN--don't read so fast. I haven't made out the middle background yet. And where's the figure of St. Michael rising above the gilt tent, lined with _fleurs-de-lis_ on a blue ground? Would this be GUISNES, or ARDRES, now? Oh, ARDRES on the right--so _that's_ ARDRES--yes, yes; and now tell me what it says about the two gold fountains, and that dragon up in the sky. [JOHN _calculates that, at this rate, he has a very poor chance of getting away before the Gallery closes_. _The Patronising Persons._ 'Um! HOLBEIN again, you see--very curious their ideas of painting in those days. Ah, well, Art has made great progress since then--like everything else! _Miss Fisher._ So _that's_ the beautiful QUEEN MARY! I wonder if it is really _true_ that people have got better-looking since those days? [_Glances appealingly at Phlegmatic Fiance._ _Her Phlegmatic Fiance._ I wonder. _Miss F._ You hardly ever see such small hands now, do you? With those lovely long fingers, too! _The Phl. F._ No, never. _Miss F._ Perhaps people in some other century will wonder how anybody ever saw anything to admire in _us_? _The Phl. F._ Shouldn't be surprised. [Miss F. _does wish secretly that_ CHARLES _had more conversation_ _The Aunt._ JOHN, just find out who No. 222 is. _John. (sulkily)._ Sir GEORGE PENRUDDOCKE, Knight.