breast, and bowed, an oriental reverence. All traces of the accent with
which he first addressed Lord Codlingsby had vanished: it was disguise;
half the Hebrew's life is a disguise. He shields himself in craft, since
the Norman boors persecuted him.

They passed under an awning of old clothes, tawdry fripperies, greasy
spangles, and battered masks, into a shop as black and hideous as the
entrance was foul. "THIS your home, Rafael?" said Lord Codlingsby.

"Why not?" Rafael answered. "I am tired of Schloss Schinkenstein; the
Rhine bores me after a while. It is too hot for Florence; besides they
have not completed the picture-gallery, and my place smells of putty.
You wouldn't have a man, mon cher, bury himself in his chateau in
Normandy, out of the hunting season? The Rugantino Palace stupefies me.
Those Titians are so gloomy, I shall have my Hobbimas and Tenierses, I
think, from my house at the Hague hung over them."

"How many castles, palaces, houses, warehouses, shops, have you,
Rafael?" Lord Codlingsby asked, laughing.

"This is one," Rafael answered. "Come in."


II.


The noise in the old town was terrific; Great Tom was booming sullenly
over the uproar; the bell of Saint Mary's was clanging with alarm; St.
Giles's tocsin chimed furiously; howls, curses, flights of brickbats,
stones shivering windows, groans of wounded men, cries of frightened