"So am I ridiculous," said my companion.
"No, my dear boy," I answered, "we are not ridiculous; we are two very reasonable, superior people."
"The first time one comes—as I have done—it's a revelation."
"Oh, I remember well; one never forgets it. It's an introduction to beauty."
"And it must be a great pleasure," said my young friend, "to come back."
"Yes, fortunately the beauty is always here. What form of it," I asked, "do you prefer?"
My companion looked a little mystified; and at last he said, "I am very fond of the pictures."
"So was I. And among the pictures, which do you like best?"
"Oh, a great many."
"So did I; but I had certain favourites."
Again the young man hesitated a little, and then he confessed that the group of painters he preferred on the whole to all others was that of the early Florentines.
I was was so struck with this that I stopped short. "That was exactly my taste!" And then I
