And it is they who talk of overturning our ancient school of art! Ah, bah!--" "Our old masters," replied Balthazar, "studied the combination of colors and their endurance by submitting them to the action of sun and rain.
You are right enough, however; the material resources of art are less cultivated in these days than formerly." Madame Claes was not listening to the conversation.

The notary's remark that porcelain dinner-services were now the fashion, gave her the brilliant idea of selling a quantity of heavy silver-ware which she had inherited from her brother,--hoping to be able thus to pay off the thirty thousand francs which her husband owed.
"Ha! ha!" Balthazar was saying to Pierquin when Madame Claes's mind returned to the conversation, "so they are discussing my work in Douai, are they ?" "Yes," replied the notary, "every one is asking what it is you spend so much money on.

Only yesterday I heard the chief-justice deploring that a man like you should be searching for the Philosopher's stone.

I ventured to reply that you were too wise not to know that such a scheme was attempting the impossible, too much of a Christian to take God's work out of his hands; and, like every other Claes, too good a business man to spend your money for such befooling quackeries.

Still, I admit that I share the regret people feel at your absence from society.