第76部分(第6/7 页)

ice。　Of　the　ambition　to　win　power　and　renown　for　my　wretched　self；　she　has　formed　the　ambition　to　spread　my　Master’s　kingdom；　to　achieve　victories　for　the　standard　of　the　cross。　So　much　has　religion　done　for　me；　turning　the　original　materials　to　the　best　account；　pruning　and　training　nature。　But　she　could　not　eradicate　nature：　nor　will　it　be　eradicated　‘till　this　mortal　shall　put　on　immortality。’”

Having　said　this；　he　took　his　hat；　which　lay　on　the　table　beside　my　palette。　Once　more　he　looked　at　the　portrait。

“She　IS　lovely；”　he　murmured。　“She　is　well　named　the　Rose　of　the　World；　indeed！”

“And　may　I　not　paint　one　like　it　for　you？”

“Cui　bono？　No。”

He　drew　over　the　picture　the　sheet　of　thin　paper　on　which　I　was　accustomed　to　rest　my　hand　in　painting；　to　prevent　the　cardboard　from　being　sullied。　What　he　suddenly　saw　on　this　blank　paper；　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　tell；　but　something　had　caught　his　eye。　He　took　it　up　with　a　snatch；　he　looked　at　the　edge；　then　shot　a　glance　at　me；　inexpressibly　peculiar；　and　quite　inprehensible：　a　glance　that　seemed　to　take　and　make　note　of　every　point　in　my　shape；　face；　and　dress；　for　it　traversed　all；　quick；　keen　as　lightning。　His　lips　parted；　as　if　to　speak：　but　he　checked　the　ing　sentence；　whatever　it　was。

“What　is　the　matter？”　I　asked。

“Nothing　in　the　world；”　was　the　reply；　and；　replacing　the　paper；　I　saw　him　dexterously　tear　a　narrow　slip　from　the　margin。　It　disappeared　in　his　glove；　and；　with　one　hasty　nod　and　“good…　afternoon；”　he　vanished。

“Well！”　I　exclaimed；　using　an　expression　of　the　district；　“that　caps　the　globe；　however！”

I；　in　my　turn；　scrutinised　the　paper；　but　saw　nothing　on　it　save　a　few　dingy　stains　of　paint　where　I　had　tried　the　tint　in　my　pencil。　I　pondered