No questions were put on either side.

The paintings were delivered at intervals, and the money received; and Priam knew no more.

For many weeks he had lived in daily expectation of an uproar, a scandal in the art-world, visits of police, and other inconveniences, for it was difficult to believe that the pictures would never come beneath the eye of a first-class expert.

But nothing had occurred, and he had gradually subsided into a sense of security.

He was happy; happy in the untrammelled exercise of his gift, happy in having all the money that his needs and Alice's demanded; happier than he had been in the errant days of his glory and his wealth.