The man had moved on a little, out of sight. The picture remained facing
them. For a minute the crowd had parted in front of it and they saw it
at the end of a long pathway. Uncle William drew a proud breath. "How
much will it cost?" he said.

She took up the catalogue from her lap and opened it, glancing down the
page. "It must be here--somewhere. Yes, this is it--'The House on the
Rocks,' $2000."

Uncle William's jaw clicked a little as it came together. He held out a
hand. "Will you jest let me look at that a minute?" he said.

He ran his great finger down the page. When it came to the $2000, he
pressed it a little with his thumb, as if expecting it to rub off. Then
he looked at her, shaking his head. "It's a leetle higher'n I can go,"
he said slowly. "I wa'n't expectin' it would cost so much. You see, the
house itself didn't cost more'n three hunderd, all told, and I thought a
picter of it wouldn't cost more'n five or six."

"Five or six hundred?" Her eyes laughed.

Uncle William shook his head guiltily. "Not more'n five or six dollars,"
he said. "I reckon mebbe I _did_ put it a leetle low." A smile had
bloomed again in his face. "If he can pay the price, he'll have to have
it, I reckon--for all o' me."

"Yes, he can pay it. He is very rich, and he cares for pictures. He has
hundreds. He buys them everywhere--in Paris, London, St. Petersburg,
Italy--It only depends on whether he likes--"

The man had come into view again and was studying the picture, dipping
toward it in little sidewise flights. Uncle William watched the
pantomime jealously. "How'd you come to know him?" he asked.

"He knew my mother. He had known her from a girl. I think he loved her,"
she said quietly, her eyes on the man. "He was on the legation at St.
Petersburg--See! He _does_ like them!" She had leaned forward.

Uncle William glanced up.

The man was standing a little removed from the painting, his arms
folded, his head thrown back, oblivious to the crowd.

She rose quickly. "I am going to speak to him," she said. "Wait here for
me." She passed into the changing throng that filled the room beyond.

Uncle William waited patiently, his eyes studying the swift kaleidoscope
of the doorway. When she reappeared in it, her face was alight with
color. "Come." She held out her hand. "I want you to meet him. He likes
them--oh, very much!" She pressed her hands together lightly. "I think
he will buy them--two, at least."

Uncle William got