The discussion led to a close examination of the figure, Quarles arguing that it was out of proportion in comparison with the standing figures, a comment which the secretary met with some learned words on the laws relating to perspective. They were both a little out of their depth, I thought, and after a few moments I did not pay much attention to them. My thoughts had gone back to Musgrave's picture and to Forbes's bust of Madame Vatrotski. Zena had said that the real woman was probably somewhere between the two, and as I looked at the figure for which the dancer had been the model I felt she was right. I suppose the limbs were perfect, but it was the face which chiefly interested mo. It was like Musgrave's picture, but it was more like Forbes's bust, with something in it which differed entirely from the bust and from the picture. It was a beautiful figure, and I think the face was beautiful, but I am not sure. The secretary had just measured the figure, and the result seemed to have established the fact that Quarles's contention was right. This evidently pleased him, and he was inclined to give way on minor points of difference. "No doubt the sculptor's perspective has something to do with it," he said; "but we must not forget that the group is symbolic. I should not be surprised if the figure in the foreground is larger to illustrate the fact that modern methods are of yesterday, while the sickle has reaped the harvests of the world from old time. The sickle is not broken, you observe, and the artist may mean that it will be used again in the time to come." "You may be right," said the secretary. "I shall take an early opportunity of asking Forbes." Soon afterwards, we left, and had got a hundred yards from the building when the professor suddenly found he had left his gloves behind in the library. "I shall only be a minute or two, Wigan. Stop a taxi in the meantime." He was longer than that, but he came back triumphant, waving the gloves, an old pair hardly worth returning for. He seemed able to talk of nothing but the symbolism of the group, finding many points in it which had escaped me entirely. "It has given me an idea, Wigan." "About Madame Yatrotski?" "Yes; but we will wait until we get home." We went straight to that empty room. Zena could not persuade the old man to have some tea first. "Tea! I am not taking tea to-day. Bring me a little weak brandy and water, my dear." "Don't you feel well?" "Yes, but I am a little exhausted by talking to a man who thinks he understands art and doesn't." "Oh, Murray doesn't pretend to understand it." "Murray is not such a fool as he pretends to be, even in art; but I was thinking of the secretary, not Murray." The brandy was brought, and then the professor turned to me. "You suggested that perhaps Forbes was not the born artist that Musgrave is. What is your opinion now, Wigan?"