"I am afraid it is impossible for you to see it, Miss Leslie," he replied, "unless you are acquainted with the Baron de Argandarez, an old hidalgo of Aragon. He purchased it from me for a sum far surpassing my wildest expectations. It now adorns the walls of his ancestral castle, and I have no more to do with it." "Oh, what a pity!" cried Daphne, in a tone of sincere regret. "I _am_ disappointed. Why, it seems as if, after achieving a brilliant success, you are determined that your best friends shall not share in your triumph!" "Yes," chimed in my uncle, "you are not very patriotic towards your adopted country, Angelo, in letting Spain carry off the great masterpiece. Now if you had let me see it, I might have exceeded the Baron's price." "O papa, cannot you write to the Baron What's-his-name and offer him double the price he paid for it? Perhaps he might be induced to part with it." "We'll see, little woman. It's your birthday in a month's time. How would you like it as a birthday gift?" Daphne expressed her delight at the idea, and, turning to the artist, said: "Haven't you any photograph or engraving of your picture to give us some notion of what it's like?" Angelo shook his head. "I would not permit any one to make an engraving. The engraver would but misrepresent my art. What engraving can ever realise the beauty, the finish, the colouring of an original oil painting?" "I prefer engravings to oils," said I. "Probably; but then you're not a judge of art, you see," replied Angelo coolly. "I suppose your success has brought you many orders for pictures?" said my uncle, interposing quickly in the interests of harmony. "Very many. An English baronet has employed me to paint him a picture on any subject I choose, paying me half the price in advance." "And what subject have you chosen?" asked Daphne. "'Modesta, the Christian Martyr,' is the title of my new work, but I am delayed somewhat by the want of a suitable model." "'Fall of Cæsar,' 'Christian Martyr,'" murmured my uncle. "You seem fond of death-scenes." "Yes, I have discovered wherein my talent lies. My pencil is better adapted to illustrate repose than motion. Hitherto I have attempted to portray action, and failed. Now, still-life is my study." "Well, I hope your next picture will become as famous as the last," said Daphne, "and that you will let us have a glimpse of it before parting with it." "If you care to view a minor performance of mine," said Angelo, "visit the cathedral at Rivoli. It contains a Madonna painted by me while on a visit last year. It has given great satisfaction to the people here, if I may be permitted to sing my own praises. They have even said I was inspired by the saint. Perhaps I was," he added with a curious smile. "I should like you to view it, Miss Leslie, before you leave Rivoli, for a reason that will at once become apparent when you see it."