Bread, for instance, is strictly necessary, and should be cheap.

A great-grandfather, on the contrary, is an elegant superfluity, and may be put up at a high figure." "There is some truth in that," murmured Monsieur Tapotte.
"Besides, in the present instance, one also pays for antiquity." "_C'est juste--C'est juste_." "At the same time," continued Mueller, "if Monsieur Tapotte were to honor me with a commission for, say, half a dozen family portraits, I would endeavor to put them in at forty francs apiece--including, at that very low price, a Revolutionary Deputy, a beauty of the Louis Quinze period, and a Marshal of France." "_Tiens_! that's a fair offer enough," said madame.

"What say you, _mon ami_ ?" But Monsieur Tapotte, being a cautious man, would say nothing hastily.
He coughed, looked doubtful, declined to commit himself to an opinion, and presently drew off into a corner for the purpose of holding a whispered consultation with his wife.
Meanwhile Mueller laid aside his brushes and palette, informed me with a profound bow that my lordship had honored him by sitting as long as was strictly necessary, and requested my opinion upon the progress of the work.
I praised it rapturously.

You would have thought, to hear me, that for drawing, breadth, finish, color, composition, chiaroscuro, and every other merit that a painting could possess, this particular _chef-d'oeuvre_ excelled all the masterpieces of Europe.
Mueller bowed, and bowed, and bowed, like a Chinaman at a visit of ceremony; He was more than proud; he was overwhelmed, _accable_, et caetera, et caetera.
The Tapottes left off whispering, and listened breathlessly.
"He is evidently a great painter, _not' jeune homme_!" said Madame in one of her large whispers.
To which Monsieur replied as audibly:--"_Ca se voit, ma femme--sacre nom d'une pipe_!" "Milford will do me the favor to sit again on Friday ?" said Mueller, as I took up my hat and gloves.
I replied with infinite condescension that I would endeavor to do so.

I then made the stiffest of stiff bows to the excellent Tapottes, and, ushered to the door by Mueller, took my departure majestically in the character of Lord Smithfield..