Alaric explained that he was at Mentone with a sick sister.
"Mentone is a dull hole. You two alone there? I pity you."
"My sister has a friend with her, and I am painting all day long."
"Have you anything to show me if I come over? I admired greatly that 'Venetian Senator' I saw at Jacob's just before I left Paris. He told me it was sold, or I would have bought it."
"I have nothing at present but some rough studies. I hope to find a good head worth making a picture of in the course of time."
"Do you ever take portraits? Would you care to take me? As an order, of course—as an order."
The Israelite was, in his own way, such a very paintable object, that Baring had no difficulty with his conscience in declaring that nothing he should like better.
"What do you charge for a head and shoulders?"
Alaric named his price, and Melchior said at once—
"All right. I can find time to sit to you here better than in Paris. I can come over to you in the mornings as often as you like for the next fortnight. And we can breakfast together afterwards."
"Our table d'hôte breakfast would not be good enough for you, I think," said Alaric, rather dryly.
"Oh, I am not so particular!" returned the other, laughing. "I shall not mind what I eat, if you succeed in making a fine portrait—something in the 'Venetian Senator' line, eh? Carolus-Durand, Bonnat—they have all had a try at me. How shall I be dressed? I have a grenat velvet smoking-suit I can bring—if———"
