He had thrown himself into the arrogant attitude
of Velasquez's portrait of Del Borro in the Museum of Berlin; and his
countenance bore of set purpose the same contemptuous smile. He advanced
and shook hands with Dr Porhoet.
'Hail, brother wizard! I greet in you, if not a master, at least a
student not unworthy my esteem.'
Susie was convulsed with laughter at his pompousness, and he turned to
her with the utmost gravity.
'Madam, your laughter is more soft in mine ears than the singing of
Bulbul in a Persian garden.'
Dr Porhoet interposed with introductions. The magician bowed solemnly as
he was in turn made known to Susie Boyd, and Margaret, and Arthur Burdon.
He held out his hand to the grim Irish painter.
'Well, my O'Brien, have you been mixing as usual the waters of bitterness
with the thin claret of Bordeaux?'
'Why don't you sit down and eat your dinner?' returned the other,
gruffly.
'Ah, my dear fellow, I wish I could drive the fact into this head of
yours that rudeness is not synonymous with wit. I shall not have lived in
vain if I teach you in time to realize that the rapier of irony is more
effective an instrument than the bludgeon of insolence.
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