It is a dagger, and a
Florentine one at that. Ah! Lady Merivale, I'm afraid your picture is
more a specimen of what a modern impostor can rise to than that of an
old master. That dagger is of comparatively modern fashion, certainly
not earlier than the eighteenth century, while Rubens died in 1640."
The two artists stared, as well they might, but were neither
sufficiently acquainted with Leroy to express their surprise at his
knowledge, nor had knowledge enough themselves to challenge his dates.
It was Lord Standon who spoke first.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "Adrien going in for history! Who would have
thought it? My dear fellow, why not give a lecture?"
"On the vanity of human hopes and the folly of friendship?" inquired
Adrien, so coldly as to startle both the company and Lord Standon
himself, who not being in Lady Constance's confidence, was naturally at
a loss for the reason of this sudden anger on the part of Leroy. He drew
back in surprise, but any further reference to the matter was stopped by
the entry of Jasper Vermont. As a matter of fact, he had arrived just in
time to overhear Adrien's last words.
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