“In answer to the first, such an opportunity is beyond question of interest to me; in answer to the second, my reputation should be a guarantee of my discretion.  I hope the picture you have in view is not the Asanai one—­for there is much doubt as to its being genuine.”

“No, the one I speak of is the Sansevero Madonna.”

In spite of himself Mr. Shayne blew a long whistle.  “The Sansevero Madonna with the doves!” he reiterated.  “That is a prize!  I am astonished, though——­” It was on his tongue to say that he had thought the Prince Sansevero beyond the suspicion of illegal sale of treasures; but, checking himself in time, he finished his sentence—­“that he should be willing to part with it.  Besides, it is a dangerous thing for him to sell, on account of its celebrity.”

“So I told him.”  The Duke Scorpa lied perfectly.  “But it is better, after all, to sell one thing that will bring in a good price than to sell a number of things that bring in little, and yet incur the same amount of risk in getting them out of the country.”  Here the duke’s manner became almost confidential.  “As I told you, I am of course acting merely in the interest of my friend the Prince Sansevero.  Selling against the law of my country would be abhorrent to me personally.  But my friend, poor fellow, is hard pressed for money.  And, as he argues, the picture is his, and has been in his family since long before our government ever made such laws.  He considers he has a right—­or should have—­to dispose of property that is his own.  The government would pay not more than half what you will give me, I am sure.”

“Of course, of course.  I have long coveted that Raphael.  On the other hand, as I said, the picture is so very well known and so excellent that it could hardly be palmed off as a copy.  Also the canvas is large, which will make it very difficult to conceal.  It is still at Torre Sansevero, I suppose?”

“No, it is here in Rome.  It is removed from the frame and is at present in my palace.  I suppose the offer that you once told me you would make still holds good?”

The American looked shrewd.  “Did I name a sum?  I do not remember.  Ah, yes.  But that was for a very rich man who has since bought a Velasquez.  I doubt if he will buy any more.”

Scorpa rose as though to leave.  “My friend wants five hundred thousand lire.”

Mr. Shayne laughed scornfully.  “Preposterous!” he said, and from that they argued for nearly half an hour; but in the end it was settled that the picture should change hands, and the price agreed upon was two hundred and fifty thousand lire.

In the matter of payment the duke was punctilious about protecting his friend the Prince Sansevero from the consequences of his transgression of the law.  Shayne agreed to make his payments in cash, so that Sansevero’s name should not appear on the checks.