human
You understand pictures, Miss Talbot, he said quietly.
gpt
I remember.
human
Pretty homely, I call it, said Mr. Pegg's voice behind us.
gpt
But I suppose that makes it all the more valuable. How much do you calculate it is worth?
human
An Italian work of art of such a character as this is beyond price, he declared, a deep note in his voice;
gpt
You seem to think a lot of it, replied Mr. Pegg.
human
I wouldn't give five dollars for it, but I suppose some people would.
gpt
Markheim, for instance! remarked the duke.
human
But he couldn't get it. One of our charming hostess' chief claims to distinction is that though an American by birth she has the Italian loyalty about such matters.
gpt
Sandro means that no matter how hard up I was I wouldn't break the law by selling an Italian work of art for export, she explained lightly.
human
And this one, least of all. It came from my late husband's home, she went on,
gpt
Is there a law about taking such things out of Italy?
human
I should say there was! exclaimed the duke.
gpt
The country was being stripped by moneyed foreigners until it was enforced. We natives feel strongly on the subject, Mr. Pegg. But it is a dangerous thing to smuggle a masterpiece out of Italy now, I am happy to say.
human
Then how do you suppose Mr. Markheim succeeded in getting the Madonna of the Lamp, I put in,
gpt
Markheim has Raphael's masterpiece! he cried sharply.
human
Since when?
gpt
Well, young man, you needn't look at me like that, I said.
human
I didn't smuggle it for him, I'm sure! He bought it in New York; why, on the very day that you discovered that robbery at the Gordons'!
gpt
Curious that I didn't see the notice, he murmured, still staring at me.
human
I beg pardon, Miss Talbot. I didn't mean to be rude, I'm sure. But this was the first I had heard of it, and such things interest me greatly.
gpt
They would interest any Italian, declared Abby.
human
You see, things are occasionally smuggled out in spite of an eternal vigilance on the part of the secret service. Though as I remember, it's a good long while since the Madonna of the Lamp disappeared. It was reported to be in Berlin years ago, but this is the first time it has actually come to light. Very interesting, I'm sure. And if we really should go to war with Austria I expect we would have the opportunity of bringing back a great many things across the mountains yonder. Let's go out, by the way, and have a look at them in the moonlight.