"I stepped down quite impressed with that young man."
"Mr. Crimble?"—it came after an instant to Lord John. "With his opinion, really? Then I hope he's aware of the picture's value."
"You had better ask him," Mr. Bender observed.
"Oh, we don't depend here on the Mr. Crimbles!" Lord John returned.
Mr. Bender took a longer look at him. "Are you aware of the value yourself?"
His friend resorted again, as for the amusement of the thing, to their entertainer. "Am I aware of the value of the Moretto?"
Lord Theign, who had meanwhile lighted another cigarette, appeared, a bit extravagantly smoking, to wish to put an end to his effect of hovering aloof. "That question needn't trouble us—when I see how much Mr. Bender himself knows about it."
"Well, Lord Theign, I only know what that young man puts it at." And then as the others waited, "Ten thousand," said Mr. Bender.
"Ten thousand?" The owner of the work showed no emotion.
"Well," said Lord John again in Mr.
