house, and, crossing the Seine, made her way to the shop of a well-known picture- dealer in the Rue Lafitte.
"I wish to see Mr. Jacob," she said to the smart young man with waxed moustaches, who received her.
"He is engaged, mademoiselle."
"Then I will wait till he is free. I am come on a matter of business."
He went into an inner room, and, after a minute or two, returned, and begged the young lady to enter. She found the dealer seated at a table covered with letters, two empty cups which had contained coffee, a bottle of cognac, and some cigars. Opposite him sat a young man of Jewish aspect, with wonderful eyes and a splendid raven beard, but inclining already to baldness on the top of his head. He looked as if he wore stays, and Elizabeth, in the rapid glance she gave him, was conscious of a certain gorgeousness of appearance, attributable possibly to bis surprisingly good figure and a scarlet tie. Both the men were smoking very large cigars, and both rose as Elizabeth entered. Her height, her rather commanding air, and her fine, clear, brunette complexion, which the walk had rendered more than usually brilliant, impressed both these connoisseurs in beauty, but in a different way, as she threw back her double veil. The dealer was impressed and puzzled. What could this young woman, so unlike those who came to him daily "on business," want? Was she a grande dame, come secretly to dispose of some of her ancestors? The younger man had no such questions to trouble him. He saw a woman, exactly of the type he most admired—a finely grown creature, with a proud carriage and eyes
