名画失窃案ProblemoftheStolenRubens

雅克·福特雷尔

JacquesFutrelle

雅克·福特雷尔（JacquesFutrelle，1875—1912），美国推理小说家。在他的推理短篇小说中，最著名的是《思想机器》。脍炙人口的侦探小说为他在侦探小说界赢得了较高的声誉。

MatthewKalemadefftymilliondollarsoutofaxlegrease,afterwhichhebegantoatronizethehigharts.Itwassimleenough：hehadthemoney,andEuroehadtheoldmasters.Hismethodofbuyingwassimlicityitself.Therewerefivethousandsquareyards,moreorless,inthehugegalleryofhismarblemansionwhichweretobecovered,soheboughtfvethousandsquareyards,moreorless,ofart.Someofitwasgood,someofitfair,andmuchofitbad.ThechiefictureofthecollectionwasaRubens,whichhehadickeduinRomeforfftythousanddollars.

Soonafteracquiringhiscollection,Kaledecidedtomakecertainalterationsinthevastroomwheretheictureshung.Theywerealltakendownandstoredintheballroom,equallyvast,withtheirfacestowardthewall.MeanwhileKaleandhisfamilytookrefugeinanearbyhotel.

ItwasatthishotelthatKalemetJulesdeLesses.DeLesseswasdistinctlyFrench,thesortofFrenchmanwhoseconversationresemblescalisthenics.Hewasnervous,quick,andagile,andhetoldKaleinconfidencethathewasnotonlyaainterhimself,butwasaconnoisseurinthehigharts.Pomousintherideofossession,KalewenttoagooddealoftroubletoexhibithisrivatecollectionfordeLesses‘delectation.Ithaenedintheballroom,andthetrueartist’sdelightshoneintheFrenchmanseyesashehandledtheieceswhichweregood.Someoftheothersmadehimsmile,butitwasaninoffensivesortofsmile.

WithhisownhandsKaleliftedthereciousRubensandhelditbeforetheFrenchmanseyes.Itwasa“MadonnaandChild，”oneofthosewonderfulcreationswhichhaveenduredthroughtheyearswithallthesarkleandcolorbeautyoftheirristinedays.KaleseemeddisaointedbecausedeLesseswasnotarticularlyenthusiasticaboutthisicture.

“Why,itsaRubens！”heexclaimed.

“Yes,Isee，”relieddeLesses.

“Itcostmefftythousanddollars.”

“Itiserhasworthmorethanthat，”andtheFrenchmanshruggedhisshouldersasheturnedaway.

Kalelookedathiminchagrin.CoulditbethatdeLessesdidnotunderstandthatitwasaRubens,andthatRubenswasaainter?Orwasitthathehadfailedtohearhimsaythatitcosthimfftythousanddollars.Kalewasaccustomedtoseeingeolebobtheirheadsandoentheireyeswhenhesaidfftythousanddollars；therefore，“Dontyoulikeit?”heasked.

“Verymuchindeed，”relieddeLesses，“butIhaveseenitbefore.IsawitinRomejustaweekorsobeforeyouurchasedit.”

Theyrummagedthroughtheictures,andatlastaWhistlerwasturnedufortheirinsection.ItwasoneofthefamousThamesseries,awatercolor.DeLessesfaceradiatedexcitement,andseveraltimesheglancedfromthewatercolortotheRubensasifmentallycomaringtheexquisitelyenciledandcoloredmodernworkwiththebold,masterlytechnicoftheold.

Kalemisunderstoodthesilence.“Idontthinkmuchofthisonemyself，”heexlainedaologetically.“It‘saWhistler,andallthat,anditcostmefvethousanddollars,andIsortofhadtohaveit,butstillitisn’tjustthekindofthingthatIlike.Whatdoyouthinkofit?”

“Ithinkitiserfectlywonderful！”reliedtheFrenchmanenthusiastically.“Itistheessence,thesuerlative,ofmodernwork.Iwonderifitwouldbeossible，”andheturnedtofaceKale，“formetomakeacoyofthat?Ihavesomeslightskillinaintingmyself,anddaresayIcouldmakeafairlycreditablecoyofit.”

Kalewasflattered.Hewasmoreandmoreimressedeachmomentwiththeicture.“Why,certainly，”herelied.“Iwillhaveitsentutothehotel,andyoucan-”

“No,no,no！”interruteddeLessesquickly.“Iwouldntcaretoaccettheresonsibilityofhavingtheictureinmycharge.Thereisalwaysadangeroffre.Butifyouwouldgivemeermissiontocomehere-thisroomislargeandairyandlight,andbesidesitisquiet-”

“Justasyoulike，”saidKalemagnanimously.“Imerelythoughttheotherwaywouldbemostconvenientforyou.”

DeLessesdrewnear,andlaidonehandonthemillionairesarm.“Mydearfriend，”hesaidearnestly，“iftheseicturesweremyictures,Ishouldnttrytoaccommodateanybodywheretheywereconcerned.Idaresaythecollectionasitstandscostyou-”

“Sixhundredandeighty-seventhousanddollars，”volunteeredKaleroudly.

“Andsurelytheymustbewellrotectedhereinyourhouseduringyourabsence?”

“Thereareabouttwentyservantsinthehousewhiletheworkmenaremakingthealterations，”saidKale，“andthreeofthemdontdoanythingbutwatchthisroom.Noonecangoinoroutexcetbythedoorweentered-theothersarelockedandbarred-andthenonlywithmyermission,orawrittenorderfromme.No,sir,nobodycangetawaywithanythinginthisroom.”

“Excellent,excellent！”saiddeLessesadmiringly.Hesmiledalittlebit.“IamafraidIdidnotgiveyoucreditforbeingthefar-sightedbusinessmanthatyouare.”Heturnedandglancedoverthecollectionoficturesabstractedly.“Acleverthief,though，”heventured，“mightcutavaluableainting,forinstancetheRubens,outoftheframe,rollitu,concealitunderhiscoat,andescae.”

Kalelaughedleasantlyandshookhishead.

ItwasacouleofdayslateratthehotelthatdeLessesbroughtuthesubjectofcoyingtheWhistler.HewasrofuseinhisthankswhenKalevolunteeredtoaccomanyhimtothemansionandwitnessthereliminarystagesofthework.Theyausedattheballroomdoor.

“Jennings，”saidKaletotheliveriedservantthere，“thisisMr.deLesses.Heistocomeandgoashelikes.Heisgoingtodosomeworkintheballroomhere.Seethatheisntdisturbed.”

DeLessesnoticedtheRubensleaningcarelesslyagainstsomeotherictures,withtheholyfaceoftheMadonnatowardthem.“Really,Mr.Kale，”herotested，“thatictureistoovaluabletobeleftaboutlikethat.Ifyouwillletyourservantsbringmesomecanvas,Ishallwraitandlaceituonthetablehereoffthefoor.Suosethereweremicehere！”

Kalethankedhim.Thenecessaryordersweregiven,andfnallytheicturewascarefullywraedandlacedbeyondharmsreach,whereuondeLessesadjustedhimself,aer,easel,stool,andall,andbeganhisworkofcoying.ThereKalelefthim.

ThreedayslaterKalejusthaenedtodroin,andfoundtheartiststillathislabor.

“Ijustdroedby，”heexlained，“toseehowtheworkinthegallerywasgettingalong.Itwillbefnishedinanotherweek.IhoeIamnotdisturbingyou?”

“Notatall，”saiddeLesses，“Ihavenearlyfnished.SeehowIamgettingalong?”HeturnedtheeaseltowardKale.

Themillionairegazedfromthattowardtheoriginalwhichstoodonachairnearby,andfrankadmirationfortheartistseffortswasinhiseyes.“Why,itsfne！”heexclaimed.“It‘sjustasgoodastheotherone,andIbetyoudon’twantanyfvethousanddollarsforit-eh?”

Thatwasallthatwassaidaboutitatthetime.Kalewanderedaboutthehouseforanhourorso,thendroedintotheballroomwheretheartistwasjustgettinghisarahernaliatogether,andtheywalkedbacktothehotel.TheartistcarriedunderonearmhiscoyoftheWhistler,looselyrolledu.

Oneweekassed,andtheworkmenwhohadbeenengagedinrefinishinganddecoratingthegalleryhadgone.DeLessesvolunteeredtoassistintheworkofrehangingtheictures,andKalegladlyturnedthematterovertohim.ItwasintheafternoonofthedaythisworkbeganthatdeLesses,chattingleasantlywithKale,riedloosethecanvaswhichenshroudedthereciousRubens.Thenheausedwithanexclamationofdismay.Theicturewasgone；theframewhichhadhelditwasemty.Athinstriofcanvasaroundtheinsideedgeshowedthatasharenknifehadbeenusedtocutouttheainting.

AllofthesefactscametotheattentionofProfessorAugustusS.F.X.VanDusen-TheThinkingMachine.ThiswasadayorsoafteKalehadrushedintoDetectiveMallory‘sofficeatoliceheadquarters,withthestatementthathisRubenshadbeenstolen.Hebangedhisfstdownonthedetective’sdeskandroaredathim.“Itcostmefftythousanddollars！”hedeclaredviolently.“Whydontyoudosomething?Whatareyousittingtherestaringatmefor?”

“Dontexciteyourself,Mr.Kale，”thedetectiveadvised.“Iwillutmymenatworkrightnowtorecoverthe-the-WhatisaRubens,anyway?”

“Itsaicture！”bellowedMr.Kale.“Aieceofcanvaswithsomeaintonit,anditcostmefiftythousanddollars-dontyouforgetthat！”

Sotheolicemachinerywassetinmotiontorecovertheainting.AndintimethematterfellunderthewatchfuleyeofHutchinsonHatch,reorter.Helearnedthefactsrecedingthedisaearanceoftheicture,andthencalledondeLesses.Hefoundtheartistinastateofexcitementborderingonhysteria；anintimationfromthereorteroftheobjectofhisvisitcauseddeLessestoburstintowords.

“MonDieu！Itisoutrageous！”heexclaimed.“WhatcanIdo?Iwastheonlyoneintheroomforseveraldays.Iwastheonewhotooksuchainstorotecttheicture.Andnowitisgone！Thelossisirrearable.WhatcanIdo?”

Hatchdidnthaveanyverydefniteideaastojustwhathecoulddo,sohelethimgoon.“AsIunderstandit,Mr.deLesses，”heinterrutedatlast，“nooneelsewasintheroom,excetyouandMr.Kale,allthetimeyouwerethere?”

“Nooneelse.”

“AndIthinkMr.Kalesaidthatyouweremakingacoyofsomefamouswatercolor,werentyou?”

“Yes,aThamesscene,byWhistler，”wastherely.“Thatisit,hangingoverthemantel.”

Hatchglancedattheictureadmiringly.Itwasanexquisitecoy,andshowedthedefttouchofamanwhowashimselfanartistofgreatability.

DeLessesreadtheadmirationinhisface.“Itisnotbad，”hesaidmodestly.“IstudiedwithCarolusDuran.”

Withallelsethatwasknown,andthislittleadditionalinformation,whichseemedofnoarticularvaluetothereorter,theentirematterwaslaidbeforeTheThinkingMachine.Thatdistinguishedmanlistenedfrombeginningtoendwithoutcomment.

“Whohadaccesstotheroom?”heaskedfnally.

“Thatiswhattheoliceareworkingonnow，”wastherely.“Thereareacouleofdozenservantsinthehouse,andIsuose,insiteofKalesrigidorders,therewasacertainlaxityintheirenforcement.”

“Ofcoursethatmakesitmoredifficult，”saidTheThinkingMachineintheeretuallyirritatedvoicewhichwassodistinctlyaartofhimself.“PerhasitwouldbebestforustogotoMr.Kaleshomeandersonallyinvestigate.”

Kalereceivedthemwiththereservewhichallrichmenshowintheresenceofreresentativesoftheress.Hestaredfranklyandsomewhatcuriouslyatthediminutivefigureofthescientist,whoexlainedtheobjectoftheirvisit.

“Iguessyoufellowscantdoanythingwiththis，”themillionaireassuredthem.“Ivegotsomeregulardetectivesonit.”

“IsMr.Malloryherenow?”asked“TheThinkingMachine”curtly.

“Yes,heisustairsintheservantsquarters.”

“Mayweseetheroomfromwhichtheicturewastaken?”inquiredthescientist,withasuaveintonationwhichHatchknewwell.

Kalegrantedtheermissionwithawaveofthehand,andusheredthemintotheballroom,wheretheictureshadbeenstored.FromtherelativecenterofthisroomTheThinkingMachinesurveyeditall.Thewindowswerehigh.Halfadozendoorsleadingoutintothehallways,totheconservatory,andquietnooksofthemansionofferedinnumerableossibilitiesofaccess.Afterthisonelongcomrehensivesquint,TheThinkingMachinewentoverandickedutheframefromwhichtheRubenshadbeencut.Foralongtimeheexaminedit.Kalesimatiencewasainfullyevident.Finallythescientistturnedtohim.

“HowwelldoyouknowMr.deLesses?”heasked.

“Iveknownhimforonlyamonthorso.Why?”

“Didhebringyoulettersofintroduction,ordidyoumeethimmerelycasually?”

Kaleregardedhimwithevidentdisleasure.“Myownersonalaffairshavenothingwhatevertodowiththismatter，”hesaidointedly.“Mr.deLessesisagentlemanofintegrity,andcertainlyheisthelastwhomIwouldsusectofanyconnectionwiththedisaearanceoftheicture.”

“Thatisusuallythecase，”remarkedTheThinkingMachinetartly.HeturnedtoHatch.“JusthowgoodacoywasthathemadeoftheWhistlericture?”heasked.

“Ihaveneverseentheoriginal，”Hatchrelied，“buttheworkmanshiwassuerb.PerhasMr.Kalewouldntobjecttousseeing-”

“Oh,ofcoursenot，”saidKaleresignedly.“Comein,itsinthegallery.”

Hatchsubmittedtheicturetoacarefulscrutiny.“Ishouldsaythatthecoyiswellnigherfect，”washisverdict.“Ofcourse,initsabsence,Icouldntsayexactly；butitiscertainlyasuerbwork.”

Thecurtainsofawidedooralmostinfrontofthemwerethrownasidesuddenly,andDetectiveMalloryentered.Hecarriedsomethinginhishand,butatthesightofthemconcealeditbehindhim.Unreressedtriumhwasinhisface.

“Ah,rofessor,wemeetoften；dontwe?”hesaid.

“ThisreorterhereandhisfriendseemtobetryingtodragdeLessesintothisaffairsomehow，”Kalecomlainedtothedetective.“Idontwantanythinglikethattohaen.Heisliabletogooutandrintanything.Theyalwaysdo.”

TheThinkingMachineglaredathimunwaveringly,straightintheeyeforaninstant,thenextendedhishandtowardMallory.“Wheredidyoufndit?”heasked.

“Sorrytodisaointyou,rofessor，”saidthedetectivesarcastically，“butthisisthetimewhenyouwerealittlelate，”andheroducedtheobjectwhichheheldbehindhim.“Hereisyouricture,Mr.Kale.”

Kalegasedalittleinreliefandastonishment,andhelduthecanvaswithbothhandstoexamineit.“Fine！”hetoldthedetective.“I‘llseethatyoudon’tloseanythingbythis.Why,thatthingcostmefftythousanddollars！”Kaledidntseemabletogetoverthat.

TheThinkingMachineleanedforwardtosquintattheuerrighthandcornerofthecanvas.“Wheredidyoufndit?”heaskedagain.

“Rolledutight,andconcealedinthebottomofatrunkintheroomofoneoftheservants，”exlainedMallory.“TheservantsnameisJennings.Heisnowunderarrest.”

“Jennings！”exclaimedKale.“Why,hehasbeenwithmeforyears.”

“Didheconfess?”askedthescientistimerturbably.

“Ofcoursenot，”saidMallory.“Hesayssomeoftheotherservantsmusthavehiddenitthere.”

TheThinkingMachinenoddedatHatch.“Ithinkerhasthatisall，”heremarked.“Icongratulateyou,Mr.Mallory,uonbringingthemattertosuchaquickandsatisfactoryconclusion.”

Tenminuteslatertheyleftthehouseandcaughtacarforthescientistshome.Hatchwasalittlechagrinedattheunexectedterminationoftheaffair,andwasthoughtfullysilentforatime.

“Mallorydoesshowanoccasionalgleamofhumanintelligence,doesnthe?”hesaidatlastquizzically.

“NotthatIevernoticed，”remarkedTheThinkingMachinecrustily.

“Buthefoundtheicture，”Hatchinsisted.

“Ofcoursehefoundit.Itwasutthereforhimtofnd.”

“Putthereforhimtofind！”reeatedthereorter.“DidntJenningsstealit?”

“Ifhedid,hesafool.”

“Well,ifhedidntstealit,whoutitthere?”

“DeLesses.”

“DeLesses！”echoedHatch.“Whythedeucedidhestealafftythousand-dollarictureandutitinaservantstrunktobefound?”

TheThinkingMachinetwistedaroundinhisseatandsquintedathimcoldlyforamoment.“Attimes,Mr.Hatch,Iamabsolutelyamazedatyourstuidity，”hesaidfrankly.“IcanunderstanditinamanlikeMallory,butIhavealwaysgivenyoucreditforbeinganastute,quick-wittedman.”

Hatchsmiledatthereroach.Itwasnotthefirsttimehehadheardofit.ButnothingbearingontherobleminhandwassaiduntiltheyreachedTheThinkingMachinesaartments.

“Theonlyrealquestioninmymind,Mr.Hatch，”saidthescientistthen，“iswhetherornotIshouldtakethetroubletorestoreMr.Kalesictureatall.Heiserfectlysatisfed,andwillrobablyneverknowthedifference.So-”

SuddenlyHatchsawsomething.“GreatScott！”heexclaimed.“DoyoumeanthattheicturethatMalloryfoundwas-”

“Acoyoftheoriginal，”sulementedthescientist.“PersonallyIknownothingwhateveraboutart；therefore,Icouldnotsayfromobservationthatitisacoy,butIknowitfromthelogicofthething.Whentheoriginalwascutfromtheframe,theknifeswervedalittleattheuerrighthandcorner.Thecanvasremainingintheframetoldmethat.TheicturethatMr.Malloryfounddidnotcorresondinthisdetailwiththecanvasintheframe.Theconclusionisobvious.”

“AnddeLesseshastheoriginal?”

DeLesseshastheoriginal.Howdidhegetit?Inanyoneofadozenways.Hemighthaverolledituandstuckitunderhiscoat.Hemighthavehadaconfederate.ButIdontthinkthatanyordinarymethodoftheftwouldhaveaealedtohim.Iamgivinghimcreditforbeingclever,asImustwhenwereviewthewholecase.

Forinstance,heaskedforermissiontocoytheWhistler,whichyousawwasthesamesizeastheRubens.Itwasgranted.Hecoieditracticallyunderguard,alwayswiththechancethatMr.Kalehimselfwoulddroin.Ittookhimthreedaystocoyit,sohesays.Hewasaloneintheroomallthattime.HeknewthatMr.Kalehadnotthefaintestideaofart.Takingadvantageofthat,whatwouldhavebeensimlerthantohavecoiedtheRubensinoil?Hecouldhaveremoveditfromtheframeimmediatelyafterhecanvaseditover,andketitinaositionnearhimwhereitcouldbequicklyconcealedifhewasinterruted.Remember,theictureisworthfftythousanddollars；therefore,wasworththetrouble.

“DeLessesisanartist-weknowthat-anddealingwithamanwhoknewnothingwhateverofart,hehadnofears.WemaysuosehisideaallalongwastousethecoyoftheRubensasasortofdecoyafterhegotawaywiththeoriginal.YousawthatMallorydidn‘tknowthedifference,anditwassafeforhimtosuosethatMr.Kalewouldn’t.Hisonlydangeruntilhecouldgetawaygracefullywasofsomecriticorconnoisseur,erhas,seeingthecoy.Hisboldnessweseereadilyinthefactthatheermittedhimselftodiscoverthetheft；thathediscovereditafterhehadvolunteeredtoassistMr.Kaleinthegeneralworkofrehangingtheicturesinthegallery.JusthowheuttheictureinJenning‘strunkIdon’thaentoknow.Wecanimaginemanyways.”Helaybackinhischairforaminutewithoutseaking,eyessteadilyturneduward,fngerslacedreciselytitoti.

“Theonlythingremainingistogogettheicture.ItisindeLessesroomnow-youtoldmethat-andsoweknowitissafe.Idaresayheknowsthatifhetriedtorunawayitwouldinevitablyuthimundersusicion.”

“ButhowdidhetaketheicturefromtheKaleshome?”askedHatch.

“HetookitwithhimrobablyunderhisarmthedayheleftthehousewithMr.Kale，”wastheastonishingrely.

Hatchwasstaringathiminamazement.Afteramomentthescientistaroseandassedintotheadjoiningroom,andthetelehonebelltherejingled.WhenhejoinedHatchagainheickeduhishatandtheywentouttogether.

DeLesseswasinwhentheircardswentu,andreceivedthem.Theyconversedofthecasegenerallyfortenminutes,whilethescientistseyeswereturnedinquiringlyhereandthereabouttheroom.Atlasttherecameaknockonthedoor.

“ItisDetectiveMallory,Mr.Hatch，”remarkedTheThinkingMachine.“Oenthedoorforhim.”

DeLessesseemedstartledforjustoneinstant,thenquicklyrecovered.Malloryseyeswerefullofquestionswhenheentered.

“Ishouldlike,Mr.Mallory，”beganTheThinkingMachinequietly，“tocallyourattentiontothiscoyofMr.Kale‘sicturebyWhistler-overthemantelhere.Isn’titexcellent?Youhaveseentheoriginal?”

Mallorygrunted.DeLessesface,insteadofexressingareciationofthecomliment,blanchedsuddenly,andhishandsclosedtightly.Againherecoveredhimselfandsmiled.

“Thebeautyofthisictureliesnotonlyinitsfaithfulnesstotheoriginal，”thescientistwenton，“butalsointhefactthatitwasaintedunderextraordinarycircumstances.Forinstance,Idontknowifyouknow,Mr.Mallory,thatitisossiblesotocombineglueanduttyandafewothercommonlacethingsintoaastewhichwouldeffectuallyblotoutanoilainting,andofferatthesametimeanexcellentsurfaceforwatercolorwork.”

“Thiswatercolor-thiscoyofWhistler，”continuedthescientistevenly-“isaintedonsuchaasteasIhavedescribed.ThatasteinturncoverstheoriginalRubensicture.Itcanberemovedwithwaterwithoutdamagetotheicture,whichisinoil,sothatinsteadofacoyoftheWhistlerainting,wehaveanoriginalbyRubens,worthfiftythousanddollars.Thatistrue；isntit,Mr.deLesses?”

Therewasnorelytothequestion-nonewasneeded.Itwasanhourlater,afterdeLesseswassafelyinhiscell,thatHatchcalleduTheThinkingMachineonthetelehoneandaskedonequestion.

“HowdidyouknowthatthewatercolorwasaintedovertheRubens?”

“BecauseitwastheonlyabsolutelysafewayinwhichtheRubenscouldbehoelesslylosttothosewhowerelookingforit,andatthesametimeerfectlyreserved，”wastheanswerofTheThinkingMachine，“ItoldyoudeLesseswasacleverman,andalittlelogicdidtherest.Twoandtwoalwaysmakefour,Mr.Hatch,notsometimes,butallthetime.”

马修·科尔在车轴润滑油生意上足足赚了五千万，随后他便开始四处收购名画。原因很简单，他有钱，而欧洲也不缺大师级名作。不过，他收购名画只是为了填满府邸中占地大约五千平方米的艺术厅，所以他总共买了总面积大约五千平方米的画。画的品质参差不齐，大多数都是次品，不过，他也买到了不少好的作品，其中最有名的当属他在罗马花了五万美元买下的鲁本斯的名作。

收购完成之后，科尔打算对这间宽敞的大厅作些许变动。于是，他让人把画全部摘下来，存放在同样宽敞的宴会厅里，并让所有的画都面朝墙壁。同时，科尔和家人则暂住在一家小旅馆内。

就是在这家小旅馆里，科尔和吉尔斯·德·勒赛普斯相遇了。德·勒赛普斯是那种典型的说话细声细气的法国人，神经兮兮的，但是又聪明伶俐。他告诉科尔，自己不但是个画家，而且是个高级艺术鉴赏家，声音中带着神秘。一向为自己的藏品感到自豪的科尔想在这位“专家”面前炫耀一下，于是便带着他在宴会厅内费力地翻看自己的收藏。德·勒赛普斯时而眼中闪现出惊叹的神情，时而只是礼貌地笑一笑，看不出任何感情色彩。

随后，科尔把鲁本斯的名作《圣母子》拿到这个法国人的面前。虽然经历了岁月的洗礼，但是这幅画依然色彩鲜艳、栩栩如生。可令科尔有点儿失望的是，德·勒赛普斯好像并没有对它另眼相看。

“看到了吗？鲁本斯的名作！”他大喊。

“看到了。”德·勒赛普斯回答说。

“我花了五万美元买下的。”

“可能不值这些。”德·勒赛普斯耸了耸肩，移开了目光。

科尔有点儿懊恼地看着他。怎么回事？难道他不知道这是鲁本斯的名作，不知道鲁本斯是个大画家吗？还是没听到这是自己花五万美元买来的？以前他每次提到五万美元的价格的时候，听众们总是目瞪口呆。

“喜欢吗？”科尔问。

“当然，”德·勒赛普斯回答道，“但是我以前见过这幅画，就在罗马，就在你买下它的一周前，我已经看过了。”

他们继续翻看着其他画，突然，一幅惠斯勒的画映入眼帘，这是著名的泰晤士水彩画系列中的一幅。德·勒赛普斯两眼放光地盯着它，还不时地瞟瞟鲁本斯的画，似乎在比较现代作品中的细腻与古老画派的豪放。

科尔却误解了德·勒赛普斯的沉默，他说道：“我也不怎么喜欢这幅画。”他的语气中略带歉意，“只是惠斯勒的一幅风景画而已，我花五千美元买下了它，不过，我自己却不怎么喜欢。你觉得呢？”