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VII

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2021

Jean Chothia
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

MR. BENDER indeed, formidably advancing, scarce had use for this assistance. “Happy to meet you—especially in your beautiful home, Lord Theign.” To which he added while the master of Dedborough stood goodhumouredly passive to his approach: “I’ve been round, by your kind permission and the light of nature, and haven't required support; though if I had there's a gentleman there who seemed prepared to allow me any amount.” Mr. Bender, out of his abundance, evoked as by a suggestive hand this contributory figure. “A young, spare, nervous gentleman with eyeglasses— I guess he's an author. A friend of yours too?” he asked of Lord John.

The answer was prompt and emphatic. “No, the gentleman is no friend at all of mine, Mr. Bender.”

“A friend of my daughter’s,” Lord Theign easily explained. “I hope they’re looking after him.”

“Oh, they took care he had tea and bread and butter to any extent; and were so good as to move something,” Mr. Bender conscientiously added, “so that he could get up on a chair and see straight into the Moretto.”

This was a touch, however, that appeared to affect Lord John unfavourably. “Up on a chair? I say!”

Mr. Bender took another view. “Why, I got right up myself—a little more and I’d almost have begun to paw it! He got me quite interested”—the proprietor of the picture would perhaps care to know—“in that Moretto.” And it was on these lines that Mr. Bender continued to advance. “I take it that your biggest value, however, Lord Theign, is your splendid Sir Joshua. Our friend there has a great deal to say about that too—but it didn't lead to our moving any more furniture.” On which he paused as to enjoy, with a show of his fine teeth, his host's reassurance. “It has yet, my impression of that picture, sir, led to something else. Are you prepared, Lord Theign, to entertain a proposition?”

Lord Theign met Mr. Bender's eyes while this inquirer left these few portentous words to speak for themselves. “To the effect that I part to you with ‘The Beautiful Duchess of Waterbridge’? No, Mr. Bender, such a proposition would leave me intensely cold.”

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The Outcry , pp. 46 - 51
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2016

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  • VII
  • Henry James
  • Edited by Jean Chothia, University of Cambridge
  • Book: The Outcry
  • Online publication: 11 April 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511756580.014
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  • VII
  • Henry James
  • Edited by Jean Chothia, University of Cambridge
  • Book: The Outcry
  • Online publication: 11 April 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511756580.014
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • VII
  • Henry James
  • Edited by Jean Chothia, University of Cambridge
  • Book: The Outcry
  • Online publication: 11 April 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511756580.014
Available formats
×