" . . . Her face! That wonderful face
proclaimed itself the keynote of the group. If he lived a thousand
years he would never behold its like again. What would he not have
given to model the lady, then and there!
But modeling was out of the question for the present. It must never be
known that he was still capable of such an effort; it might spoil all
his chances for the business in hand. He must continue to pose as
heretofore for a harmless antiquarian, a dreamer. Nobody, save old
Andrea the servant, must know the secret of his life. Yet he was not
without hopes of being able to reveal himself ere long in his true
character of creator. The day was perhaps not far distant when a
pecuniary transaction between himself and his respected American
friend, Mr. van Koppen, would ease the burdensome poverty of his life.
Then--then he would return to the gold projects of his youth; to the
"Eumenides," first of all. Light-hearted with bright expectancy, he saw
the financial deal well-nigh concluded; the cheque might be in his
pocket within a week; and now already he saw himself, in imagination,
donning his faded frock-coat and wending his way down to the Residency
to lay the foundations of his heart's desire.
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