RICK WEDMORE. Then I fear I cannot buy; a naked picture without
a frame is useless to me.

CHARLES RICKETTS. Do you think I could buy a frame without a picture?

JOSEPH PENNELL. I say Ricketts, it seems a beastly shame we didn't get
this show for the International. It would have been good 'ad.' What's
the use of Backers? I see they're selling well.

CHARLES RICKETTS. But, my dear Pennell, you're doing the _Life_, aren't
you?--the real Dubedat?

JOSEPH PENNELL. Oh, yes, but the family have injuncted Heinemann from
publishing the letters: Mr. Justice Kekewich will probably change his
opinion when the weather gets warmer. It is only an interim injunction.

CHARLES RICKETTS. A sort of Clapham Injunction.

SIR WILLIAM RICHMOND, K.C.B., R.A. If I had known what a stupendous
genius Dubedat was, I should have given him part of the 'New Bailey' to
decorate.

D. S. MACCOLL. Let us be thankful he's as dead as Bill Bailey.

SIR CHARLES HOLROYD (_smoothing things over_). I think we ought to have
an example for the Tate. (MACCOLL _winces_.) The Chantrey
Bequest--(MACCOLL _winces again_)--might do something; and I must write
to Lord Balcarres. The National Arts Collections Fund may have something
over from the subscriptions to the Rokeby Velasquez; but I want to see
what Colvin is going to choose for the British Museum.

SIDNEY COLVIN. I think we might have this drawing; it stands on its
legs. A most interesting fellow Dubedat. He reminds me of Con--

GEORGE MOORE. Not Stevenson, though _he_ had no talent whatever. My
dear Mr. Colvin, have you ever read 'Vailima Letters'? I have read parts
of them.

SIDNEY COLVIN (_coldly_). Ah, really! Did you suffer very much?

SIR HUGH P. LANE. Do you think, Mr. Gersaint, the artist's widow would
give me one of the pictures for the Dublin Gallery? We have no money at
all. _I have no money_, but all the artists are giving pictures:
Sargent, Shannon, Lavery, Frank Dicksee; and Rodin is giving a plaster
cast.

GERSAINT. How charming and insinuating you are, Sir Hugh. We can make
special reductions for the Dublin Gallery, but you can hardly expect
charitable bequests from picture dealers.

SIR HUGH P. LANE. Oh! but Dowdeswell, Agnew, Sulley, Wertheimer, P. and
D. Colnaghi, and Humphry Ward are all giving me pictures. Now, look
here, I'll buy these five drawings, and you can give me these two. I'll
give you a Gainsborough drawing in exchange for them. It