I turned hot from head to foot, but Mueller’s serene effrontery was equal to the occasion.

“I dare say not, Madame,” he replied, coolly.  “I dare say not.  This portrait is not intended to be like.”

Madame Tapotte’s eyes and mouth opened simultaneously.

“Comment!” she exclaimed.

“I should be extremely sorry,” continued Mueller, loftily, “and his lordship would be extremely sorry, if there were too much resemblance.”

“But a—­a likeness—­it seems to me, should at all events be—­like,” stammered Madame Tapotte, utterly bewildered.

“And if M’sieur is to paint my wife,” added Monsieur Tapotte, who had by this time joined the group at the easel, “I—­I..._Dame_! it must be a good deal more like than this.”

Mueller drew himself up with an air of great dignity.

“Sir,” he said, “if Madame does me the honor to sit to me for her portrait—­for her own portrait, observe—­I flatter myself the resemblance will be overwhelming.  But you must permit me to inform you that Milord Smithfield is not sitting for his own portrait.”

The Tapottes looked at each other in a state bordering on stupefaction.

“His lordship,” continued Mueller, “is sitting for the portrait of one of his illustrious ancestors—­a nobleman of the period of Queen Elizabeth.”

Tapotte mari scratched his head, and smiled feebly.

“Parbleu!” said he, “mais c’est bien drole, ca!”

The artist shrugged his shoulders.

“It so happens,” said he, “that his lordship’s gallery at Smithfield Castle has unhappily been more than half destroyed by fire.  Two centuries of family portraits reduced to ashes!  Terrible misfortune!  Only one way of repairing the loss—­that is of partially repairing it.  I do my best.  I read the family records—­I study the history of the period—­his lordship sits to me daily—­I endeavor to give a certain amount of family likeness; sometimes more, you observe, sometimes less ... enormous responsibility, Monsieur Tapotte!”

“Oh, enormous!”

“The taste for family portraits,” continued Mueller, still touching up the Titian, “is a very natural one—­and is on the increase.  Many gentlemen of—­of somewhat recent wealth, come to me for their ancestors.”

“No!”

“Foi d’honneur.  Few persons, however, are as conscientious as his lordship in the matter of family resemblance.  They mostly buy up their forefathers ready-made—­adopt them, christen them, and ask no questions.”

Monsieur and Madame Tapotte exchanged glances.

“Tiens, mon ami, why should we not have an ancestor or two, as well as other folks,” suggested the lady, in a very audible whisper.

Monsieur shook his head, and muttered something about the expense.

“There is no harm, at all events,” urged madame, “in asking the price.”