CHAPTER II

The world-famous authority on English portrait painting in the eighteenth century, whom Mr. Sherrington had induced to visit Norfolk Street, leaned comfortably back in his host’s easy chair, and sipping his second glass of the old brown sherry which Mr. Cordukes had tasted three days before, smiled as he regarded the preseniment of the fresh-complexioned gentleman of the tie-wig and scarlet. “A Sir Joshua!” he murmured, softly. “An undoubted Sir Joshua. And a Sir Joshua of his best period. Oh yes—without a doubt!” …