were all right the pictures were all right. As I said, I don’t explain it, but I’m telling you facts.”
On Chalmer’s writing-table lay the photograph that he had received that day in the foreign mail. Ten minutes later he had Plumber at work making a sketch from it in pastels. At the end of an hour the artist rose and stretched wearily.
“It’s done,” he yawned. ‘“You’ll excuse me for being so long. I got interested in the job. Lordy! but I’m tired. No bed last night, you know. Guess it’ll have to be good night now, O Commander of the Faithful!”
Chalmers went as far as the door with him and slipped some bills into his hand.
“Oh! I’ll take ’em,” said Plumer. “All that’s included in the fall. Thanks. And for the very good dinner. I shall sleep on feathers to-night and dream of Bagdad. I hope it won’t turn out to be a dream in the morning. Farewell, most excellent Caliph!”
Again Chalmers paced restlessly upon his rug. But his beat lay as far from the table whereon lay the pastel sketch as the room would permit. Twice, thrice, he tried to approach it, but failed. He could see the dun and gold and brown of the colors, but there was a wall about it built by his fears that kept him at a distance. He sat down and tried to calm himself. He sprang up and rang for Phillips.
“There is a young artist in this building,” he said,
[30]
