made-up name rather, eh? Portman Square, and all that, y'know!

[Illustration: "My dear fellow, as if it was possible to mistake his
touch!"]

_His Friend_ (_with a touching confidence in the seriousness of the
authorities_). Oh, they wouldn't do that sort of thing _here_!

_A Too-impulsive Enthusiast_. Oh, JOHN, _look_ at that lovely tiger up
there! _Isn't_ the skin marvellously painted, and the eyes so natural
and all! It's a Landseer of _course_!

_John_. Catalogue says STUBBS.

_The Enth._ (_disenchanted_). STUBBS? I never heard of him. But it's
really rather well done.

_The Man who is a bit of a Connoisseur in his way_ (_arriving at a
portrait of Mrs. BILLINGTON_). Not a bad Romney, that.

_His Friend_ (_with Catalogue_). What makes you think it's a Romney?

_The Conn._ My dear fellow, as if it was possible to mistake his
touch. (_Thinks from his friend's expression, that he had better
hedge._) Unless it's a Reynolds. Of course it _might_ be a Sir Joshua,
their manner at one period was very much alike--yes, it might be a
Reynolds, certainly.

_His Friend_. It might be a Holbein--if it didn't happen to be a
Gainsborough.