Dressed in a shabby old fur-lined coat, from which half the buttons were gone, and holding a shabby old silk hat in one hand he stood for a moment in the doorway, blinking and then, catching sight of Freyberger, he beckoned. Freyberger went to him and Antonides, catching him by the lapel, whispered, “A word in your ear, Mr Freyberger.” “Well, what is it?” asked the detective, following the old man into the corridor. “Am I dealing in this matter with you, or the young woman?” “I suppose by the young woman you mean Mademoiselle Lefarge?” “Yes.” “Well, you are dealing with me. Why do you ask?” “Only this,” said Antonides, who, from one brief glimpse, had summed up the financial position of this girl, who was able to afford a private suite of rooms on the first floor of the Langham. “It’s nothing to you, here or there, a pound or two in my pocket, so long as it doesn’t come out of your pocket, won’t make _her_ pocket any the lighter. Mr Freyberger, consider our bargain off, like a good friend and let me do the skinning.” “Now look here,” said Freyberger, “you bargained to come here and view the thing for two pounds.” “Guineas.” “And the cab fare, that’s what you’ll get and not a penny more. Skinning, indeed! Do you take me for an—art dealer? See here, I have the money for you, here’s two pounds, here’s two shillings, and what’s the cab fare?” “Five.” “Three, you mean; anyhow, here’s five. What a funny man you are.” “I am never funny in business, but in return for your compliment, I will give you a piece of advice—never, never, stir a foot in business without settling your terms in advance. Once I lost eight shillings and a halfpenny, the single fare to Leicester by omitting to carry out that precept. It was seven years ago, Mr Freyberger, seven years, and I have never got that eight and a halfpenny back from the world yet, and never will. Now to our consultation.” They returned to the sitting-room, Freyberger introduced the old man in a word or two and then pointed to the bust. The Greek took a spectacle case from his pocket, drew forth a pair of steel-rimmed spectacles and adjusted them upon his nose. Then he examined the bust attentively. “Well?” asked Freyberger. “Well,” answered the other, quite disregardless of the other people present. “Where are your eyes, could you not see that this bust is, from an artistic point of view, the twin brother of that which I repaired for you?” “I was sure of it,” said Freyberger. “Then why did you ask my opinion?” “Because I wanted to make doubly sure.” “Well, you have done so,” said Antonides, taking his spectacles off and replacing them in his pocket. “You may take my word for it that the man who executed this bust was also the author of that admirable piece of work which some Philistine smashed with his coal hammer.” Antonides bowed slightly to the ladies, seized his old hat, which he had placed on a chair, and, escorted by Freyberger, left the room.