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painting； or stagecraft； with little or nothing to
support the supposition； that a self…announced genius of
any sort in their midst was inevitably suspect。 On the
other hand； there was the ever…imminent danger of
entertaining； and snubbing； an angel unawares。 There had
been the lamentable case of Sledonti； the dramatic poet；
who had been belittled and cold…shouldered in the Owl
Street hall of judgment； and had been afterwards hailed
as a master singer by the Grand Duke Constantine
Constantinovitch … 〃the most educated of the Romanoffs；〃
according to Sylvia Strubble； who spoke rather as one who
knew every individual member of the Russian imperial
family； as a matter of fact； she knew a newspaper
correspondent； a young man who ate BORTSCH with the air
of having invented it。 Sledonti's 〃Poems of Death and
Passion〃 were now being sold by the thousand in seven
European languages； and were about to be translated into
Syrian； a circumstance which made the discerning critics
of the Nuremberg rather shy of maturing their future
judgments too rapidly and too irrevocably。
As regards Knopfschrank's work； they did not lack
opportunity for inspecting and appraising it。 However
resolutely he might hold himself aloof from the social
life of his restaurant acquaintances； he was not minded
to hide his artistic performances from their inquiring
gaze。 Every evening； or nearly every evening； at about
seven o'clock； he would make his appearance； sit himself
down at his accustomed table； throw a bulky black
portfolio on to the chair opposite him； nod round
indiscriminately at his fellow…guests； and commence the
serious business of eating and drinking。 When the coffee
stage was reached he would light a cigarette； draw the
portfolio over to him； and begin to rummage among its
contents。 With slow deliberation he would select a few
of his more recent studies and sketches； and silently
pass them round from table to table； paying especial
attention to any new diners who might be present。 On the
back of each sketch was marked in plain figures the
announcement 〃Price ten shillings。〃
If his work was not obviously stamped with the hall…
mark of genius； at any rate it was remarkable for its
choice of an unusual and unvarying theme。 His pictures
always represented some well…known street or public place
in London； fallen into decay and denuded of its human
population； in the place of which there roamed a wild
fauna； which； from its wealth of exotic species； must
have originally escaped from Zoological Gardens and
travelling beast shows。 〃Giraffes drinking at the
fountain pools； Trafalgar Square；〃 was one of the most
notable and characteristic of his studies； while even
more sensational was the gruesome picture of 〃Vultures
attacking dying camel in Upper Berkeley Street。〃 There
were also photographs of the large canvas on which he had
been engaged for some months； and which he was now
endeavouring to sell to some enterprising dealer or
adventurous amateur。 The subject was 〃Hyaenas asleep in
Euston Station；〃 a composition that left nothing to be
desired in the way of suggesting unfathomed depths of
desolation。
〃Of course it may be immensely clever； it may be
something epoch…making in the realm of art；〃 said Sylvia
Strubble to her own particular circle of listeners； 〃but；
on the other hand； it may be merely mad。 One mustn't pay
too much attention to the commercial aspect of the case；
of course； but still； if some dealer would make a bid for
that hyaena picture； or even for some of the sketches； we
should know better how to place the man and his work。〃
〃We may all be cursing ourselves one of these days；〃
said Mrs。 Nougat…Jones； 〃for not having bought up his
entire portfolio of sketches。 At the same time； when
there is so much real talent going about； one does not
feel like planking down ten shillings for what looks like
a bit of whimsical oddity。 Now that picture that he
showed us last week； 'Sand…grouse roosting on the Albert
Memorial；' was very impressive； and of course I could see
there was good workmanship in it and breadth of
treatment； but it didn't in the least convey the Albert
Memorial to me； and Sir James Beanquest tells me that
sand…grouse don't roost； they sleep on the ground。〃
Whatever talent or genius the Pomeranian artist
might possess； it certainly failed to receive commercial
sanction。 The portfolio remained bulky with unsold
sketches； and the 〃Euston Siesta；〃 as the wits of the
Nuremberg nicknamed the large canvas； was still in the
market。 The outward and visible signs of financial
embarrassment began to be noticeable； the half…bottle of
cheap claret at dinner…time gave way to a small glass of
lager； and this in turn was displaced by water。 The one…
and…sixpenny set dinner receded from an everyday event to
a Sunday extravagance； on ordinary days the artist
contented himself with a sevenpenny omelette and some
bread and cheese； and there were evenings when he did not
put in an appearance at all。 On the rare occasions when
he spoke of his own affairs it was observed that he began
to talk more about Pomerania and less about the great
world of art。
〃It is a busy time there now with us；〃 he said
wistfully； 〃the schwines are driven out into the fields
after harvest； and must be looked after。 I could be
helping to look after if I was there。 Here it is
difficult to live； art is not appreciate。〃
〃Why don't you go home on a visit？〃 some one asked
tactfully。
〃Ah； it cost money！ There is the ship passage to
Stolpmunde； and there is money that I owe at my lodgings。
Even here I owe a few schillings。 If I could sell some
of my sketches … 〃
〃Perhaps；〃 suggested Mrs。 Nougat…Jones； 〃if you were
to offer them for a little less； some of us would be glad
to buy a few。 Ten shillings is always a consideration；
you know； to people who are not over well off。 Perhaps
if you were to ask six or seven shillings … 〃
Once a peasant； always a peasant。 The mere
suggestion of a bargain to be struck brought a twinkle of
awakened alertness into the artist's eyes； and hardened
the lines of his mouth。
〃Nine schilling nine pence each；〃 he snapped； and
seemed disappointed that Mrs。 Nougat…Jones did not pursue
the subject further。 He had evidently expected her to
offer seven and fourpence。
The weeks sped by； and Knopfschrank came more rarely
to the restaurant in Owl Street； while his meals on those
occasions became more and more meagre。 And then came a
triumphal day； when he appeared early in the evening in a
high state of elation； and ordered an elaborate meal that
scarcely stopped short of being a banquet。 The ordinary
resources of the kitchen were supplemented by an imported
dish of smoked goosebreast； a Pomeranian delicacy that
was luckily procurable at a firm of DELIKATESSEN
merchants in Coventry Street； while a long…necked bottle
of Rhine wine gave a finishing touch of festivity and
good cheer to the crowded table。
〃He has evidently sold his masterpiece；〃 whispered
Sylvia Strubble to Mrs。 Nougat…Jones； who had come in
late。
〃Who has bought it？〃 she whispered back。
〃Don't know； he hasn't said anything yet； but it
must be some American。 Do you see； he has got a little
American flag on the dessert dish； and he has put pennies
in the music box three times； once to play the 'Star…
spangled Banner；' then a Sousa march； and then the 'Star…
spangled Banner' again。 It must be an American
millionaire； and he's evidently got a very big price for
it； he's just beaming and chuckling with satisfaction。〃
〃We must ask him who has bought it；〃 said Mrs。
Nougat…Jones。
〃Hush！ no； don't。 Let's buy some of his sketches；
quick； before we are supposed to know that he's famous；
otherwise he'll be doubling the prices。 I am so glad
he's had a success at last。 I always believed in him；
you know。〃
For the sum of ten shillings each Miss Strubble
acquired the drawings of the camel dying in Upper
Berkeley Street and of the giraffes quenching their
thirst in Trafalgar Square； at the same price Mrs。
Nougat…Jones secured the study of roosting sand…grouse。
A more ambitious picture； 〃Wolves and wapiti fighting on
the steps of the Athenaeum Club；〃 found a purchaser at
fifteen shillings。
〃And now what are your plans？〃 asked a young man who
contributed occasional paragraphs to an artistic weekly。
〃I go back to Stolpmunde as soon as the ship sails；〃
said the artist； 〃and I do not return。 Never。〃
〃But your work？ Your career as painter？〃
〃Ah； there is nossing in it。 One starves。 Till to…
day I have sold not one of my sketches。 To…night you
have bought a few； because I am going away f