“Not a sou less! What rascality! and, faith, he has done many other things just as bad. One of these mornings we’ll see him in the dock!”
“How you exaggerate!” said Frederick, in a timid voice.
“Come, now, that’s good; I exaggerate!” exclaimed the artist, giving the table a great blow with his fist.
This violence had the effect of completely restoring the young man’s self-command. No doubt he might have acted more nicely; still, if Arnoux found these two pictures——
“Bad! say it out! Are you a judge of them? Is this your profession? Now, you know, my youngster, I don’t allow this sort of thing on the part of mere amateurs.”
“Ah! well, it’s not my business,” said Frederick.
“Then, what interest have you in defending him?” returned Pellerin, coldly.
The young man faltered:
“But—since
