The Model Millionaire
"Nonsense, nonsense! Why, look at the trouble of laying on the paint alone,and standing all day in front of the picture!
It's easy, Hughie, for you to talk, but I tell you that there are moments when Art almost reaches the importance of manual
work. But you mustn't talk; I'm very busy. Smoke a cigarette, and keep quiet. "
After some time the servant came in, and told Trevor that the frame-maker wanted to speak to him "Don't run away, Hughie," he said, as he went out, "I will be back in a moment. "
The old beggar-man took advantage of Trevor's absence to rest for a moment on a wooden seat that was behind him. He looked so miserable that Hughie pitied him, and felt in his pockets to see what money he had. All he could find was a pound and some pennies. "Poor old fellow," he thought to himself, "he wants it more than I do, but I shan't have much money myself for a week or two" ; and he walked across the room and slipped the pound into the beggar's hand.
The old man jumped, and a faint smile passed across his old lips. "Thank you,sir, "he said, "thank you. "
Then Trevor arrived, and Hughie left, a little red in the face at what he had done.He spent the day with Laura, was charmingly blamed for giving away a pound, and had to walk home.
That night he went to the Palette club about eleven o'clock, and found Trevor sitting by himself in the smoking-room.
"Well, Alan, did you finish the picture all right?" he said, as he lit his cigarette.
"Finished and framed, my boy! " answered Trevor; "and, by the way, that old model you saw has become very fond of you. I had to tell him all about you --- who you are, where you live, what money you have, what hopes you have ¡ª"
"My dear Alan, " cried Hughie, "I shall probably find him waiting for me when I go home. But, of course, you are only joking. Poor old fellow! I wish I could do something for him. I think it is terrible that any one should be so miserable. I have got heaps of old clothes at home --- do you think he would care for any of them? His clothes were falling to bits. "
"But he looks splendid in them, " said Trevor. "I should never want to paint him in good clothes. However, I'll tell him of your offer. "
"Alan, " said Hughie 'seriously, "you painters are a cruel lot. "
"An artist's heart is his head , " replied Trevor; "and besides, our business is to realize the world as we see it, not to make it better. And now tell me how Laura is. The old model was quite interested in her. "
"You don't mean to say you talked to him about her?" said Hughie.
"Certainly I did. He knows all about the cruel father, the lovely Laura, and the ten thousand pounds.
"You told the old beggar all about my private affairs?" cried Hughie, looking very red and angry.
"My dear boy, " said Trevor, smiling, "that old beggar, as you call him, is one of the richest men in Europe. He could buy all London tomorrow. He has a house in every capital, has his dinner off a gold plate, and can prevent Russian going to war when he wishes. "
"What on earth do you mean?" cried Hughie.
"What I say, " said Trevor. "The old man you saw today was Baron Hausberg! He is a great friend of mine, buys all my pictures and that sort of thing, and asked me a month ago to paint him as a beggar. What do you expect? You know these rich men. And I must say he looked fine in his old clothes. "
'Baron Hausberg! " cried Hughie. "Good heavens! I gave him a pound! " And he sank into his big chair shocked and astonished.
"Gave him a pound! " shouted Trevor and he burst into a roar of laughter. "My dear boy, you¡®ll never see it again. "
"I think you ought to have told me, Alan, " said Hughie in a bad temper, "and not have let me make such a fool of myself. "
"Well, to begin with, Hughie, " said Trevor, "I never thought that you went about giving money away in that careless manner. I can understand your kissing a pretty model, but your giving money to an ugly one --- no! Besides, when you came in I didn't know whether Hausberg would like his name mentioned. You know he wasn't dressed very well ! "
"How stupid he must think me! " said Hughie.
"Not at all. He was in the highest spirits after you left; kept laughing to himself and rubbing his old hands together. I couldn't understand why he was so interested to know all about you; but I see it all now. He¡®ll use your money, Hughie, pay you something for its use every month , and have a wonderful story to tell after dinner. "
"I am an unlucky devil, " said Hughie. "The best thing I can do is to go to bed; and, my dear Alan, you mustn't tell any one. I shouldn't dare to show my face if people knew .
"Nonsense! It shows your kindness of spirit, Hughie. And don't run away. Have another cigarette, and you can talk about Laura as much as you like. "
However, Hughie wouldn't stay, but walked home, feeling very unhappy, and leaving Alan Trevor overcome with laughter.
The next morning, as he was at breakfast, the servant brought him a card on which was written, ¡°Monsieur Gustave Naudin,for Mlle Baron Hausberg.¡± ¡° I suppose he has come for an apology,¡±said Hughie to himself; and he told the servant to bring the visitor in .
An old gentleman with gold glasses and grey hair came into the room and said, "Have I the honour of speaking to Monsieur Erskine?"
Hughie bowed .
"I have come from Baron Hausberg, " he continued. "The Baron---"
"I beg, sir, that you will offer him my sincerest apologies, " said Hughie.
"The Baron, " said the old gentleman with a smile, "has asked me to bring you this letter; " and he held out an envelope.
On the outside was written , "A wedding present to Hugh Erskine and Laura Merton , from an old beggar, " and inside was a cheque for ten thousand pounds.
When they were married the Baron made a speech at the wedding breakfast.
From Outstanding Short Stories .
Approximately l , 800 words.
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