'I never said so, any more than I gave you leave to examine the contents of
my letters,' said the other haughtily.

'Egad, I'd have smashed the seal any day to have caught a glimpse of such
a face as that. I'll wager her eyes are blue grey. Will you have a bet on
it?'

'When you have done with your raptures, I'll thank you to hand the likeness
to me.'

'But who is she? what is she? where is she? Is she the Greek?'

'When a fellow can help himself so coolly to his information as you do, I
scarcely think he deserves much aid from others; but, I may tell you, she
is not Maritana, nor a provincial actress, nor any actress at all, but a
young lady of good blood and birth, and my own first cousin.'

'On my oath, it's the best thing I ever knew of you.'

Kearney laughed out at this moment at something in the letter, and did not
hear the other's remark.

'It seems, Master Joe, that the young lady did not reciprocate the
rapturous delight you feel, at sight of _your_ picture. My sister
says--I'll read you her very words--"she does not like the portrait of your
friend Atlee; he may be clever and amusing, she says, but he is undeniably
false." Mind that--undeniably false.'

'That's all the fault of the artist. The stupid dog would place me in so
strong a light that I kept blinking.'