The Argonauts
as in his own chamber! Darvid noticed the astonishment
of those around him, and irony settled on his thin lips. Did
those men imagine that he could begin such undertakings
and be like a blind man among colors? Some begin thus
but are ruined! He understood that in our time immense
knowledge is the only foundation for pyramidal fortunes,
and his memory alone knew the long series of nights which
had passed above his head while it was sleepless in winning
knowledge.
Next appeared before the table a young man, lean and slender; his dark eyes expressed genius, his clothing was threadbare, his gestures almost vulgar. This was a sculptor, young but already famous. The man had incipient con- sumption, which brought excessive ruddiness to his face, a glitter to his eyes, and a short, rasping cough from his breast. He spoke of the sculptures which he was to finish for the edifices reared by the great contractor; he showed the drawings of them, and explained his ideas; he rose to enthusiasm; he spoke more loudly, and coughed at more frequent intervals. Darvid raised his head; the sensitive skin on his cheeks quivered with a delicate movement; he touched the shoulder of the artist with the tips of two white, slender fingers.
"Rest," said he; "it hurts you to speak too long."
"My younger daughter coughs in just this way," remarked he to the other men present, "and it troubles me somewhat."
"Perhaps a visit to Italy," said the architect.
"Yes, I have thought of that, but the doctors note nothing dangerous so far."
Then he turned to the sculptor:
"You ought to visit Italy, for its collections of art and—its climate."
7
