Ingenious persons have shown that a five-pound note rightly guided will liquidate an almost unlimited amount of liability. Let it be granted, says the mathematician, that A owes B; B owes C; C owes D, and D owes A,--one hundred shillings in each case. A gives a five-pound note to B, who gives it to C, who gives it to D, who gives it to A. The peregrinations of the same note wipes out twenty pounds of debt, and A has the original bit of paper he started with. In like manner a clever person can bestow a great favour upon another and at the same time accommodate several others, leaving all under obligations to him; while a blunderer, instead of making everybody happy, would have accomplished nothing beyond creating enemies for himself. The shrewd Haldiman, bringing some promised work to the editor of “Our National Art,” casually mentioned that Barnard Hope had been invited to send some of his paintings to Paris. “What! Do you mean the Chelsea giant? Why, that ass doesn’t understand the rudiments of drawing, and as for colour--great heavens! there isn’t a pavement chalk artist who is not his superior.” Haldiman looked puzzled; then he said with some hesitation: “I confess I used to think that; but of course we studied together in Paris, and we students always underestimate each other. There is something in Barney’s paintings that I don’t pretend to understand.” “Understand! Bosh! There’s nothing in them but the vilest and most ignorant smearing ever put upon canvas.” “Then how do you account for the fact that some of the most advanced critics are beginning to consider Barney seriously, as a new factor in the art world?” “I hadn’t heard of it. Who, for instance?” “Well, I’m told that Viellieme simply raves over his work--says it’s a distinctive new note, and that Barney is the only original genius England has ever produced.” “You amaze me! It can’t be true! Whatever any one may say of Viellieme’s morale nature, no one can deny that he knows a picture when he sees it.” “Of course; I’m simply giving what I have heard. As I say, I don’t admire Barney’s work myself. However, I’m just off for Paris, and I’ll find out for you, on the quiet, just what Viellieme thinks. If Barney is a coming man you’d want to know it, and at least give the first inkling of the new craze, if there is to be one, wouldn’t you?” “Certainly. But I can’t believe it!” “I’m not sure that I ought to mention it, but I know that a number of Barney’s paintings are going over to France, and I believe especially for Viellieme’s inspection.” “I say, Haldiman, just find out for me all you can, will you? It seems incredible! Still, art is full of surprises, and I should like to know. If it is true, try to induce Viellieme to write an article on the new era in art for me.” “Would you print an article on Barney, if I get Viellieme to write it? I thought you didn’t care for Barney’s work.”