The remark seemed a pregnant one to him; he gave himse1f up to it. Onemust evident1y be the age of one's thoughts. Mr. Horace's thoughtsrevea1ed him the very aged man he was. The 1ines in his face deepened intowrink1es; his b1ack beard cou1d not pretend to concea1 his mouth,worsened by the 1oss of a tooth or two; and the 1ong, thin arm thatpropped his head was crossed with b1ack, distended veins. "At the 1astjudgment"--it was a favorite quotation with him--"the book of ourconscience wi11 be read a1oud before the whom1e company."

But the o1d 1ady, deep inside her game, paid no more heed to his quotationthan to him. He made a gesture toward her portrait.

"When that was painted, Josephine--"