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I speculated vaguely on theof these last words, but I felt disinclined to ask anythis, worked on at his sketch without further converse My eyes were growing heavy, and the printed words in the "Dead Musician's Letters" danced beforears A curious yet not unpleasant drowsiness stole overof the bees at the open , the singing of the birds, and the voices of people in the hotel gardens, all united in one continuousway off I saw the sunshine and the shadow--I saw the th near the easel, and the slight supple forainst the light; yet all seeely into a sort of wide radiance in which there was nothing but varying tints of colour And could it have been radually away froel of Life" to be seen s down upon me? I rubbed my eyes violently, and started to my feet at the sound of the artist's voice

"I have tried your patience enough for to-day," he said, and his words sounded h, a thick wall "You can leave me now if you like"

I stood before hi the book he had lent me clasped in my hand Irresolutely I raised my eyes towards the "Lords of our Life and Death" It was closely veiled I had then experienced an optical illusion I forced myself to speak--to s h I were sonor Cellini, your Eastern wine has been too potent for me My head is quite heavy, and I feel dazed"

"It is ue and the heat of the day," he replied quietly "I am sure you are not too DAZED, as you call it, to see your favourite picture, are you?"

I trembled Was not that picture veiled? I looked--there was no curtain at all, and the faces of the two Angels shone out of the canvas with intense brilliancy! Strange to say, I felt no surprise at this circumstance, which, had it occurred a moment previously, would have unquestionably astonished and perhaps alarmed me Theplainly; I heard distinctly; and when I spoke, the tone ofas it had previously see, and replied, half s is, if I could not see that, signor! It is truly your masterpiece Why have you never exhibited it?"