"You were very well lodged here," he said, "it is very quiet.

I had never come up to this floor before." His eyes continued wandering over the walls until they were at last arrested by the old painting which the lamp illumined, and thereupon he remained for a moment blinking as if surprised.

And all at once he rose and approached the picture.

"Dear me, dear me," said he, "but that's very good, that's very fine." "Isn't it ?" rejoined Pierre.

"I know nothing about painting but I was stirred by that picture on the very day of my arrival, and over and over again it has kept me here with my heart beating and full of indescribable feelings." Narcisse no longer spoke but examined the painting with the care of a connoisseur, an expert, whose keen glance decides the question of authenticity, and appraises commercial value.