[Illustration: "A Solemn Gentleman, with a troublesome cough, reading aloud to his Wife."] _Miss P._ (_standing opposite "The Flight into Egypt" reading_). "One of the principal figures here is the Donkey." Where _is_ Mr. PODBURY? (_To P., who reappears, humbly proffering a tin focussing-case._) Thanks, but you need not have troubled! "The Donkey ... um--um--never seen--um--um--any of the nobler animals so sublime as this quiet head of the domestic ass"--(_here BOB digs PODBURY in the ribs, behind Miss P.'s back_)--"chiefly owing to the grand motion in the nostril, and writhing in the ears." (_A spasmodic choke from_ PODBURY.) May I ask what you find so amusing? _Podb._ (_crimson_). I--I _beg_ your pardon--I don't know _what_ I was laughing at exactly. (_Aside to BOB._) _Will_ you shut up, confound you! _A Stout Lady, close by_ (_reading from HARE_). "The whole symmetry of it depending on a narrow line of light." (_Dubiously, to her Daughter._) I don't _quite_--oh yes, I do now--that's it--where my sunshade is--"the edge of a carpenter's square, which connects those unused tools" ... h'm--can _you_ make out the "unused tools," ETHEL? _I_ can't.... But he says--"The Ruined House is the Jewish Dispensation." Now I should never have found _that_ out for myself. (_They pass to another canvas._) "TINTORET denies himself all aid from the features.... No time allowed for watching the expression" ... (That reminds me--what _is_ the time by your bracelet, darling?) "No blood, no stabbing, or cutting ... but an awful substitute for these in the chiaroscuro." (Ah, yes, indeed! Do you see it, love?--in the right-hand corner?) "So that our eyes"--(_comfortably_)--"seem to become bloodshot, and strained with strange horror, and deadly vision." (Not one o'clock, _really_?--and we've to meet Papa outside Florian's, for lunch at one-thirty! Dear me, we mustn't stay too long over this room.) _A Solemn Gentleman_ (_with a troublesome cough, who is also provided with HARE, reading aloud to his wife_).... "Further enhanced by--rook--rook--rook!--a largely-made--rook--ook!--farm-servant, leaning on a--ork--ork--ork--ork--or--ook!--basket." Shall I--ork!--go on? _His Wife_. Yes, dear, do, _please_! It makes one notice things so _much_ more! [_The Solemn Gentleman goes on._ _Miss P._ (_as they reach the staircase_). Now just look at this Titian, Mr. PODBURY! RUSKIN particularly mentions it. Do note the mean and petty folds of the drapery, and compare them with those in the TINTORETS in there. _Podb._ (_obediently_). Yes, I will,--a--did you mean _now_--and will it take me long, because-- [_Miss PRENDERGAST sweeps on scornfully._ _Podb._ (_following, with a desperate effort to be intelligent_). They don't seem to have any Fiammingoes here. _Miss P._ (_freezingly, over her shoulder_). Any _what_, Mr. PODBURY? Flamingoes?