‘ Don’t be alarmed,’ said Gowan, coming from his easel behind the door. ‘It’s only Blandois. He is doing duty as a model to-day. I am making a study of him. It saves me money to turn him to some use. We poor painters have none to spare.’
Blandois of Paris pulled off his slouched hat, and saluted the ladies without coming out of his corner.
‘ A thousand pardons!’ said he. ‘But the Professore here is so inexorable with me, that I am afraid to stir.’
‘ Don’t stir, then,’ said Gowan coolly, as the sisters approached the easel. ‘Let the ladies at least see the original of the daub, that they may know what it’s meant for. There he stands, you see. A bravo waiting for his prey, a distinguished noble waiting to save his country, the common enemy waiting to do somebody a bad turn, an angelic
