Page:Foreign Tales and Traditions (Volume 2).djvu/58

any other circumstances than the present, I should have felt honoured in accepting."

"Young man," said the prince, "I do not wish to hurt your feelings; and as you force me to esteem you, I must still tell you, that in spite of the circumstances under which we became acquainted, we should have come to a good un- derstanding, if a person for whom I have a great considera- tion, and who found you here in the drawing-room, had not told me so many disadvantageous things of you, and desired me not to take any notice of your letter."

"I shall not follow the example of that lady," replied Ed- ward, now considerably relieved from his embarrassment; "I neither accuse her, nor complain of her, as she certainly spoke of me according to her own convictions. But if your highness would do me the favour to show me the picture by young Diedricht, and some others of your collection, I should leave you with the highest gratitude."

"I am glad," replied the prince, "that you are turning your attention to the Fine Arts. I have only a few pictures here; but there is one which I was fortunate enough to become possessed of a few days ago, and which alone is worth as much as an ordinary collection.

They stepped into a richly ornamented cabinet, in which several old and new paintings were displayed on the walls and upon some easels. "Here is the essay of the young man," said the prince. "It promises well, and although the subject is not to my taste, the manner in which it is treated is worthy of all praise. The colouring is good, although somewhat fleshy; the drawing is correct, and the expres- sion touching. Only they should renounce painting MADON- NAS."

The prince now drew aside a curtain, and placing Edward in the proper light, exclaimed: "But now, look here! Examine this exquisite piece by my favourite JULIO ROMANO, and be astonished and enraptured!"

With a loud exclamation and delighted features Edward