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Cathedral used to be open till one o'clock, free to the public, but the curtains were carefully drawn over these great works of art; after this hour visitors were admitted upon the payment of one franc, and the pictures were exhibited. Doubtless the same regulation is in force now." A walk of a few moments brought them to the Place Verte, a little park enclosed, with a colossal statue of Rubens in the centre. "Everything in Antwerp is Rubens," said the doctor. "The people believe in him still, and almost worship his memory." "Why should they? He was only a great painter--was he?" added Paul. "He was more than that: he was quite distinguished as a statesman and a diplomatist. He was ambassador to England, Holland, and other countries. His celebrity as an artist, and his influence with the crowned heads of several nations, caused him to be regarded with deep interest by the people. He lived in a splendid mansion, for the immense income which he derived from his pencil enabled him to support an elegant establishment. He had a great number of pupils, and at one period in his career they painted no inconsiderable part of his pictures. He had orders from all the crowned heads of Europe, and in many of his works he could only make the designs and give the finishing touches to them. He was very industrious, and painted rapidly, as he must have done to produce so many pictures." "He humbugged his customers then--didn't he?" "His assistants did only the heavy work, while Rubens furnished the design, and gave the work its finishing touches. The celebrated sculptors do not perform all the drudgery of chiselling out a statue. Wherever you go in Antwerp, you will hear of Rubens. You will find his works in all the galleries, you will visit his house in the Rue Rubens, his pictures will be shown to you in every church, and you will see his tomb in St. Jacques." "They have Rubens on the brain, as we should say at home," laughed Paul. "Yes, and they have it badly. From this point you have a good view of the Cathedral," added the doctor, as they paused near the statue of Rubens, where they could see the building over the tops of the trees. "The steeple is very handsome. It is of the most beautiful and delicate workmanship you will see." "I should think it would blow down." "It is banded together with a framework of iron, and the stones are held together with copper bolts." "How high is it?" asked Paul, as he gaz
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