We will not disturb Mr. King, now, Mr. Lagrange. You two come
over this evening." They saw her face white and frightened.
"I believe I'll go back with you, if you don't mind," returned Conrad
Lagrange, with his twisted grin; "I don't think I want any of that in
there, either." To the dog who was moving toward the studio door, he
added; "Here, Czar, you mustn't interrupt the lady. You're not in her
class."
They were moving away, when Mrs. Taine's voice came again, clearly and
distinctly, through the window.
"Oh, very well. I wish you joy of your possession. I promise you, though,
that the world shall never hear of this portrait of your mistress. If you
dare try to exhibit it, I shall see that the people to whom you must look
for your patronage know how you found the original, an innocent, mountain
girl, and brought her to your studio to live with you. Fairlands has
already talked enough, but my influence has prevented it from going too
far. You may be very sure that from now on I shall not exert myself to
deny it."
The artist's friends in the rose garden, again, stopped involuntarily.
Sibyl uttered a low exclamation.
Conrad Lagrange looked at Myra Willard. "I think," he said in a low tone,
"that the time has come.
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