The hand that he had free grasped Claude’s in a burst of sincere affection.  He then shook Jory’s, adding: 

’And you, young pontiff; I read your last article, and thank you for your kind mention of myself.  Come in, come in, both of you!  You don’t disturb me; I’m taking advantage of the daylight to the very last minute, for there’s hardly time to do anything in this confounded month of November.’

He had resumed his work, standing before his easel, on which there was a small canvas, which showed two women, mother and daughter, sitting sewing in the embrasure of a sunlit window.  The young fellows stood looking behind him.

‘Exquisite,’ murmured Claude, at last.

Bongrand shrugged his shoulders without turning round.

’Pooh!  A mere nothing at all.  A fellow must occupy his time, eh?  I did this from life at a friend’s house, and I am cleaning it a bit.’

‘But it’s perfect—­it is a little gem of truth and light,’ replied Claude, warming up.  ’And do you know, what overcomes me is its simplicity, its very simplicity.’

On hearing this the painter stepped back and blinked his eyes, looking very much surprised.

’You think so?  It really pleases you?  Well, when you came in I was just thinking it was a foul bit of work.  I give you my word, I was in the dumps, and felt convinced that I hadn’t a scrap of talent left.’

His hands shook, his stalwart frame trembled as with the agony of travail.  He rid himself of his palette, and came back towards them, his arms sawing the air, as it were; and this artist, who had grown old amidst success, who was assured of ranking in the French School, cried to them: 

’It surprises you, eh? but there are days when I ask myself whether I shall be able to draw a nose correctly.  Yes, with every one of my pictures I still feel the emotion of a beginner; my heart beats, anguish parches my mouth—­in fact, I funk abominably.  Ah! you youngsters, you think you know what funk means; but you haven’t as much as a notion of it, for if you fail with one work, you get quits by trying to do something better.  Nobody is down upon you; whereas we, the veterans, who have given our measure, who are obliged to keep up to the level previously attained, if not to surpass it, we mustn’t weaken under penalty of rolling down into the common grave.  And so, Mr. Celebrity, Mr. Great Artist, wear out your brains, consume yourself in striving to climb higher, still higher, ever higher, and if you happen to kick your heels on the summit, think yourself lucky!  Wear your heels out in kicking them up as long as possible, and if you feel that you are declining, why, make an end of yourself by rolling down amid the death rattle of your talent, which is no longer suited to the period; roll down forgetful of such of your works as are destined to immortality, and in despair at your powerless efforts to create still further!’

His full voice had risen to a final outburst like thunder, and his broad flushed face wore an expression of anguish.  He strode about, and continued, as if carried away, in spite of himself, by a violent whirlwind: