At last Rowland delivered himself of the upshot of these.

"How would you like," he suddenly demanded, "to go to Rome ?" Hudson stared, and, with a hungry laugh which speedily consigned our National Individuality to perdition, responded that he would like it reasonably well.

"And I should like, by the same token," he added, "to go to Athens, to Constantinople, to Damascus, to the holy city of Benares, where there is a golden statue of Brahma twenty feet tall." "Nay," said Rowland soberly, "if you were to go to Rome, you should settle down and work.

Athens might help you, but for the present I should n't recommend Benares." "It will be time to arrange details when I pack my trunk," said Hudson.
"If you mean to turn sculptor, the sooner you pack your trunk the better." "Oh, but I 'm a practical man! What is the smallest sum per annum, on which one can keep alive the sacred fire in Rome ?" "What is the largest sum at your disposal ?" Roderick stroked his light moustache, gave it a twist, and then announced with mock pomposity: "Three hundred dollars!" "The money question could be arranged," said Rowland.

"There are ways of raising money." "I should like to know a few! I never yet discovered one." "One consists," said Rowland, "in having a friend with a good deal more than he wants, and not being too proud to accept a part of it." Roderick stared a moment and his face flushed.