word to describe 'em. I met a fellow the other day who told me that it
was impossible that shadows on white sand should be
blue,--ultramarine,--as they are. I found out, later, that the man had been
as far as Brighton beach; but he knew all about Art, confound him. He
gave me a lecture on it, and recommended me to go to school to learn
technique. I wonder what old Kami would have said to that.'

'When were you under Kami, man of extraordinary beginnings?'

'I studied with him for two years in Paris. He taught by personal
magnetism. All he ever said was, "Continuez, mes enfants," and you had
to make the best you could of that. He had a divine touch, and he knew
something about colour. Kami used to dream colour; I swear he could
never have seen the genuine article; but he evolved it; and it was good.'

'Recollect some of those views in the Soudan?' said Torpenhow, with a
provoking drawl.

Dick squirmed in his place. 'Don't! It makes me want to get out there
again. What colour that was! Opal and umber and amber and claret and
brick-red and sulphur--cockatoo-crest--sulphur--against brown, with a
nigger-black rock sticking up in the middle of it all, and a decorative
frieze of camels festooning in front of a pure pale turquoise sky.' He
began to walk up and down. 'And yet, you know, if you try to give these
people the thing as God gave it, keyed down to their comprehension and
according to the powers He has given you----'

'Modest man! Go on.'

'Half a dozen epicene young pagans who haven't even been to Algiers