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〃You can't start a sensation with one painting；〃 Mr。 Graham remarked dryly。
This had been the very remark Larry had adroitly been trying to draw from the dealer。
〃Why； that's so！〃 he exclaimed。 And then as if the thought had only that moment come to him： 〃Why not have an exhibition of paintings done in his new manner？ He's got a studio full of things just as characteristic as this one。〃
Larry caught the gleam which came into the dealer's eyes。 It was instantly masked。
〃Too late in the spring for a picture show。 Couldn't put on an exhibition before next season。〃
〃But why not have a private pre…exhibition showing？〃 Larry argued 〃with special invitations sent to a small； carefully chosen list； putting it over strong to them that you were offering them the chance of a first and exclusive view of something very remarkable。 Most of them will feel flattered and will come。 And that will start talk and stir up interest in your public exhibition in the fall。 That's the idea！〃
Again there was the gleam； quickly masked； in the dealer's eyes。 But Larry got it。
〃How do I know this picture here isn't just an accident？the only one of the sort Mr。 Hunt has ever painted； or ever will paint？〃 cautiously inquired Mr。 Graham。 〃You said you had a second picture。 May I see it？〃
Larry hesitated。 But he believed he had the dealer almost 〃sold〃； a little more and Mr。 Graham would be convinced。 So he brought in Maggie's portrait。 The dealer looked it over with a face which he tried to keep expressionless。
〃How much is this one？〃 he asked at length。
〃It is not for sale。〃
〃It will bring more money than the other。 It's a more interesting subject。〃
〃That's why I'm keeping it；〃 said Larry。 〃I think you'll admit； Mr。 Graham； that this proves that Mr。 Hunt is not now painting accidents。〃
〃You're right。〃 The mask suddenly dropped from Mr。 Graham's face； he was no longer merely an art merchant； he was also an art enthusiast。 〃Hunt has struck something bold and fresh； and I think I can put him over。 I'll try that scheme you mentioned。 Tell me where I can find him and I'll see him at once。〃
〃That picture has got to be sold before I give you his address。 No use seeing him until then； he'd laugh at you； and not listen to anything。 He's sore at the world； thinks it doesn't understand him。 An actual sale would be the only argument that would have weight with him。〃
〃All rightI'll buy the picture myself。 Hunt and I have had a falling out； and I'd like him to have proof that I believe in him。〃 Again Mr。 Graham was the art merchant。 〃Though； of course； I can't pay the five thousand you ask。 Hunt's new manner may catch on； and it may not。 It's a big gamble。〃
〃What will you pay？〃
〃What you paid for itthree thousand。〃
〃That's an awful drop from what I expected。 When can you pay it？〃
〃I'll send you my check by an assistant as soon as I get back to my place。〃
〃I told you I was squeezed financiallyso the picture is yours。 I'll send you Mr。 Hunt's present address when I receive your check。 Make it payable to 'cash。'〃
When Mr。 Graham had gone with the Italian motherit was then the very end of the afternoonLarry wondered if his plan to draw Hunt out of his hermitage was going to succeed； and wondered what would be the result； if any； upon the relationship between Hunt and Miss Sherwood if Hunt should come openly back into his world an acclaimed success； and come with the changed attitude toward every one and every thing that recognition bestows。
But something was to make Larry wonder even more a few minutes later。 Dick； that habitual late riser； had had to hurry away that morning without speaking to him。 Now； when he came home toward six o'clock； Dick shouted cheerily from the hallway：
〃Ahoy！ Where you anchored； Captain Nemo？〃
Larry did not answer。 He sat over his papers as one frozen。 He knew now whose had been the elusively familiar voice he had heard outside Maggie's door。 It was Dick Sherwood's。
Dick paused without to take some messages from Judkins； and Larry's mind raced feverishly。 Dick Sherwood was the victim Maggie and Barney and Old Jimmie were so cautiously and elaborately trying to trim！ It seemed an impossible coincidence。 But no； not impossible； after all。 Their net had been spread for just such game： a young man； impressionable； pleasure…loving； with plenty of money； and with no strings tied to his spending of it。 That Barney should have made his acquaintance was easily explained； to establish acquaintance with such persons as Dick was Barney's specialty。 What more natural than that the high…spirited； irresponsible Dick should fall into this trap？or indeed that he should have been picked out in advance as the ideal victim and have been drawn into it？
〃Hello； there！〃 grumbled Dick； entering。 〃Why didn't you answer a shipmate's hail？〃
〃I heard you； but just then I was adding a column of figures； and I knew you'd look in。〃
At that moment Larry noted the portrait of Maggie； looking up from the chair beside him。 With a swiftness which he tried to disguise into a mechanical action； he seized the painting and rolled it up； face inside。
〃What's that you've got？〃 demanded Dick。
〃Just a little daub of my own。〃
〃So you paint； too。 What else can you do？ Let's have a look。〃
〃It's too rotten。 I'd rather let you see something elsethough all my stuff is bad。〃
〃You wouldn't do any little thing； would you； to brighten this tiredest hour in the day of a tired business man；〃 complained Dick。 〃I've really been a business man to…day； Captain。 Worked like the devilor an angelwhichever works the harder。〃
He lit a cigarette and settled with a sigh on the corner of Larry's desk。 Larry regarded him with a stranger and more contradicting mixture of feelings than he had ever thought to contain： solicitude for Dickjealousy of himand the instinct to protect Maggie。 This last seemed to Larry grotesquely absurd the instant it seethed up in him； but there the instinct was： was Dick treating Maggie right？
〃How was the show last night； Dick？〃
〃Punk！〃
〃I thought you said you were to see 'The Jest。' I've heard it's one of the best things for years。〃
〃Oh； I guess the show's all right。 But the company was poor。 My company； I mean。 The person I wanted to see couldn't come。〃
〃Hope you had a supper party that made up for the disappointment；〃 pursued Larry； adroitly trying to lead him on。
〃I sure had that； Captain！〃
Dick slid to a chair beside Larry； dropped a hand on Larry's knee； and said in a lowered tone：
〃Captain； I've recently met a new girland believe me； she's a knock… out！〃
〃Better keep clear of those show girls； Dick。〃
〃Never again！ The last one cured me for life。 Miss CameronMaggie Cameron； how's that for a name？is no Broadway girl； Captain。 She's not even a New York girl。〃
〃No？〃
〃She's from some place out West。 Father owned several big ranches。 She says that explains her crudeness。 Her crude？ I should say not！ They don't grow better manners right here in New York。 And she's pretty； and clever； and utterly naive about everything in New York。 Though I must say；〃 Dick added； 〃that I'm not so keen about her cousin and her uncle。 I'd met the cousin a few times the last year or two around town； he belongs here。 The two are the sort of poor stock that crops out in every good family。 They've got one merit； though： they don't try to impose on her too much。〃
〃What is your Miss Cameron doing in New York？〃
〃Having her first look at the town before going to some resort for the summer； perhaps taking a cottage somewhere。 I say； Captain〃leaning closer〃I wish you didn't feel you had to stick around this apartment so tight。 I'd like to take you out and introduce you to her。〃
Larry could imagine the resulting scene if ever this innocently proposed introduction were given。
〃I guess that for the present I'll have to depend upon your reports； Dick。〃
〃Well； you can take it from me that she's just about all right！〃
It was Larry's strange instinct to protect Maggie that prompted his next remark：
〃You're not just out joy…riding； are you； Dick？〃
Dick flushed。 〃Nothing of that sort。 She's not that kind of girl。 BesidesI think it's the real thing； Captain。〃
The honest look in Dick's eyes； even more than his words； quieted Larry's fear for Maggie。 Presently Dick walked out leaving Larry yet another problem added to his life。 He could not let anything happen to Maggie。 He could not let anything happen to Dick。 He had to protect each； he had to do something。 Yet what could he do？
Yes； this certainly was a problem！ He paced the room； another victim of the ancient predicament of divided and antagonistic duty。
CHAPTER XIX
The night of Larry's unexpected call upon her at the Grantham； Maggie had pulled herself together and aided by the imposing Miss Grierson had done her best as ingenue hostess to her pseudo…cousin； Barney； and her pseudo…uncle； Old Jimmie； and to their quarry； Dick Sherwood； whom they were so cautiously stalking。 But when Dick had gone； and when Miss Grierson had withdrawn to permit her charge a little visit with her relatives； Barney had been prompt with his dissatisfaction。
〃What was the matter with you to…night； Maggie？〃 he demanded。 〃You