The mountain is still in labour; I have not heard that the
mouse has been born. I pass him once in a while in the galleries, and he
fixes his great dark eyes on me with a sublimity of indifference, as if I
were a bad copy of a Sassoferrato! It is a long time ago now that I
heard that he was making studies for a Madonna who was to be a _resume_
of all the other Madonnas of the Italian school--like that antique Venus
who borrowed a nose from one great image and an ankle from another. It's
certainly a masterly idea. The parts may be fine, but when I think of my
unhappy portrait I tremble for the whole. He has communicated this
striking idea under the pledge of solemn secrecy to fifty chosen spirits,
to every one he has ever been able to button-hole for five minutes. I
suppose he wants to get an order for it, and he is not to blame; for
Heaven knows how he lives. I see by your blush," my hostess frankly
continued, "that you have been honoured with his confidence. You needn't
be ashamed, my dear young man; a man of your age is none the worse for a
certain generous credulity.
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