n did while the portrait of Celeripes was in
progress, he had a good deal to say over and above the message that he
brought, as to when the horse would be free for the next "sitting" in
the paddock at Mr. Brush's country place, where Jaune was painting him.
And Jaune, who was one of the best-natured of mortals, usually suffered
Stumps to talk away until he was tired.

"You might knock me down with a wisp of hay, you might, indeed, sir,"
said the groom one morning a fortnight after the picture had been
begun--the day but one, in fact, before that set for Vandyke Brown's
wedding. "Yes, sir," he continued, "with a wisp of hay, or even with a
single straw! Here I've been face to face with my own father's
brother's son, and I've put out my hand to him, and he's turned away
short and pretended as he didn't know me and went off! And they tells
me at his lodgin', for I follered him a-purpose to find him out, that
he calls hisself a Frenchman, and says as how his name--which it is
Stumps, and always has been--is Count Sikativ de Cortray!"

Jaune's palette and brushes fell to the floor with a crash. "Is it
posseeble that you do tell me of the Comte Siccatif de Courtray? Are
you then sure that you do not make one grand meestake? Is it 'im truly
that you 'ave seen?"

"Him, sir? Why, in course it's him. Haven't I knowed him ever since he
wasn't higher'n a hoss's fetlock? Don't I tell you as me and him's fust
cousins? Him? In course it's him--the gump!"

"Then, my good Stump, you will now tell me of this wonder all."

It's not much there is to tell, sir, and wat there is isn't to his
credit. His father was my father's brother. My father was in the hoss
line out Saint John's Wood way--in Lunnon, you know, sir--and his
father lived in our street and was a swell barber. Uncle'd married a
French young 'ooman as was dressmakin' and had been a lady's maid; it's
along of his mother that he gets his Frenchness, you see. He was an
only son, he was, and they made a lot of him--dressin' him fine, and
coddlin' him, and sendin' him to school like anythink. Uncle was doin'
a big trade, you see, and makin' money fast. Then, when he was a young
fellow of twenty or so, and after he'd served at barberin' with his
father for a couple of years, he took service with young Lord Cadmium--
as had his 'cousin' livin' in a willa down our way and came to uncle's
to be barbered frequent. And wen Lord Cadmium went sudden-like over to
the Continent, wishin'