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aside and whispered。 〃He'll do；〃 I heard one say； 〃Yes； he'll do；〃
said another； and then they came to me； and one of them； a little
man with a hump on his back； who is a watchmaker； assumed the
office of spokesman； and made a long speech … （the old town has
been always celebrated for orators） … in which he told me how much
they had been pleased with my productions … （the old town has been
always celebrated for its artistic taste） … and； what do you think？
offered me the painting of the mayor's portrait； and a hundred
pounds for my trouble。 Well； of course I was much surprised； and
for a minute or two could scarcely speak； recovering myself；
however； I made a speech； not so eloquent as that of the watchmaker
of course； being not so accustomed to speaking； but not so bad
either； taking everything into consideration； telling them how
flattered I felt by the honour which they had conferred in
proposing to me such an undertaking； expressing； however； my fears
that I was not competent to the task； and concluding by saying what
a pity it was that Crome was dead。 〃Crome；〃 said the little man；
〃Crome； yes； he was a clever man； a very clever man in his way； he
was good at painting landscapes and farm…houses； but he would not
do in the present instance were he alive。 He had no conception of
the heroic； sir。 We want some person capable of representing our
mayor striding under the Norman arch out of the cathedral。〃 At the
mention of the heroic an idea came at once into my head。 〃Oh；〃
said I； 〃if you are in quest of the heroic； I am glad that you came
to me； don't mistake me；〃 I continued； 〃I do not mean to say that I
could do justice to your subject； though I am fond of the heroic；
but I can introduce you to a great master of the heroic； fully
competent to do justice to your mayor。 Not to me； therefore； be
the painting of the picture given； but to a friend of mine； the
great master of the heroic； to the best； the strongest； ＇greek text
which cannot be reproduced＇〃 I added； for； being amongst orators； I
thought a word of Greek would tell。'
'Well；' said I； 'and what did the orators say？'
'They gazed dubiously at me and at one another；' said my brother；
'at last the watchmaker asked me who this Mr。 Christo was； adding；
that he had never heard of such a person； that； from my
recommendation of him； he had no doubt that he was a very clever
man； but that they should like to know something more about him
before giving the commission to him。 That he had heard of Christie
the great auctioneer； who was considered to be an excellent judge
of pictures； but he supposed that I scarcely … Whereupon；
interrupting the watchmaker； I told him that I alluded neither to
Christo nor to Christie； but to the painter of Lazarus rising from
the grave； a painter under whom I had myself studied during some
months that I had spent in London； and to whom I was indebted for
much connected with the heroic。
'〃I have heard of him；〃 said the watchmaker； 〃and his paintings
too； but I am afraid that he is not exactly the gentleman by whom
our mayor would wish to be painted。 I have heard say that he is
not a very good friend to Church and State。 Come； young man；〃 he
added； 〃it appears to me that you are too modest； I like your style
of painting； so do we all； and … why should I mince the matter？ …
the money is to be collected in the town； why should it go into a
stranger's pocket； and be spent in London？〃
'Thereupon I made them a speech； in which I said that art had
nothing to do with Church and State； at least with English Church
and State； which had never encouraged it； and that； though Church
and State were doubtless very fine things； a man might be a very
good artist who cared not a straw for either。 I then made use of
some more Greek words； and told them how painting was one of the
Nine Muses； and one of the most independent creatures alive；
inspiring whom she pleased； and asking leave of nobody； that I
should be quite unworthy of the favours of the Muse if； on the
present occasion； I did not recommend them a man whom I considered
to be a much greater master of the heroic than myself； and that；
with regard to the money being spent in the city； I had no doubt
that they would not weigh for a moment such a consideration against
the chance of getting a true heroic picture for the city。 I never
talked so well in my life； and said so many flattering things to
the hunchback and his friends； that at last they said that I should
have my own way； and that if I pleased to go up to London； and
bring down the painter of Lazarus to paint the mayor； I might； so
they then bade me farewell； and I have come up to London。'
'To put a hundred pounds into the hands of … '
'A better man than myself；' said my brother； 'of course。'
'And have you come up at your own expense？'
'Yes；' said my brother； 'I have come up at my own expense。'
I made no answer； but looked in my brother's face。 We then
returned to the former subjects of conversation； talking of the
dead； my mother； and the dog。
After some time my brother said； 'I will now go to the painter； and
communicate to him the business which has brought me to town； and；
if you please； I will take you with me and introduce you to him。'
Having expressed my willingness； we descended into the street。
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Painter of the heroic … I'll go！ … A modest peep … Who is this？ … A
capital Pharaoh … Disproportionably short … Imaginary picture …
English figures。
THE painter of the heroic resided a great way off； at the western
end of the town。 We had some difficulty in obtaining admission to
him； a maid…servant； who opened the door； eyeing us somewhat
suspiciously： it was not until my brother had said that he was a
friend of the painter that we were permitted to pass the threshold。
At length we were shown into the studio； where we found the
painter； with an easel and brush； standing before a huge piece of
canvas； on which he had lately commenced painting a heroic picture。
The painter might be about thirty…five years old； he had a clever；
intelligent countenance； with a sharp gray eye … his hair was dark
brown； and cut a…la…Rafael； as I was subsequently told； that is；
there was little before and much behind … he did not wear a neck…
cloth； but； in its stead； a black riband； so that his neck； which
was rather fine； was somewhat exposed … he had a broad； muscular
breast； and I make no doubt that he would have been a very fine
figure； but unfortunately his legs and thighs were somewhat short。
He recognised my brother； and appeared glad to see him。
'What brings you to London？' said he。
Whereupon my brother gave him a brief account of his commission。
At the mention of the hundred pounds； I observed the eyes of the
painter glisten。 'Really；' said he； when my brother had concluded；
'it was very kind to think of me。 I am not very fond of painting
portraits； but a mayor is a mayor； and there is something grand in
that idea of the Norman arch。 I'll go； moreover； I am just at this
moment confoundedly in need of money； and when you knocked at the
door； I don't mind telling you； I thought it was some dun。 I don't
know how it is； but in the capital they have no taste for the
heroic； they will scarce look at a heroic picture； I am glad to
hear that they have better taste in the provinces。 I'll go； when
shall we set off？'
Thereupon it was arranged between the painter and my brother that
they should depart the next day but one； they then began to talk of
art。 'I'll stick to the heroic；' said the painter； 'I now and then
dabble in the comic； but what I do gives me no pleasure； the comic
is so low； there is nothing like the heroic。 I am engaged here on
a heroic picture；' said he； pointing to the canvas； 'the subject is
〃Pharaoh dismissing Moses from Egypt；〃 after the last plague … the
death of the first…born； it is not far advanced … that finished
figure is Moses'： they both looked at the canvas； and I； standing
behind； took a modest peep。 The picture； as the painter said； was
not far advanced； the Pharaoh was merely in outline； my eye was； of
course； attracted by the finished figure； or rather what the
painter had called the finished figure； but； as I gazed upon it； it
appeared to me that there was something defective … something
unsatisfactory in the figure。 I concluded； however； that the
painter； notwithstanding what he had said； had omitted to give it
the finishing touch。 'I intend this to be my best picture；' said
the painter； 'what I want now is a face for Pharaoh； I have long
been meditating on a face for Pharaoh。' Here； chancing to cast his
eye upon my countenance； of whom he had scarcely taken any manner
of notice； he remained with his mo