There were a great many sketches and half-finished canvasses suspended in this rosy glow, and the corners of the room were vague and dusky.

Felix begged Mr.Brand to sit down; then glancing round him, "By Jove, how pretty it looks!" he cried.

But Mr.Brand would not sit down; he went and leaned against the window; he wondered what Felix wanted of him.

In the shadow, on the darker parts of the wall, he saw the gleam of three or four pictures that looked fantastic and surprising.

They seemed to represent naked figures.