And one should have seen the painter
play his part as a candidate, shaking hands most lavishly, saying to
one visitor: 'Your picture this year is so pretty, it pleases me so
much!' then feigning astonishment with another: 'What! you haven't had
a medal yet?' and repeating to all of them: 'Ah! If I belonged to the
committee, I'd make them walk straight.' He sent every one away
delighted, closed the door behind each visitor with an air of extreme
amiability, through which, however, there pierced the secret sneer of
an ex-lounger on the pavement.
'You see, eh?' he said to Claude, at a moment when they happened to be
left alone. 'What a lot of time I lose with those idiots!'
Then he approached the large window, and abruptly opened one of the
casements; and on one of the balconies of the house over the way a
woman clad in a lace dressing-gown could be distinguished waving her
handkerchief. Fagerolles on his side waved his hand three times in
succession. Then both windows were closed again.
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