We began toplay. We were both absorbed in the game. When it was finished I said to him:

"Lookhere, if you're hard up, let me see your pictures. If there's anything I likeI'll buy it. "

"Go tohell, " he answered.

He got up andwas about to go away. I stopped him.

"Youhaven't paid for your absinthe, " I said, smiling.

He cursed me,flung down the money and left.

I did not seehim for several days after that, but one evening, when I was sitting in thecafe, reading a paper, he came up and sat beside me.

"Youhaven't hanged yourself after all, " I remarked.

"No. I'vegot a commission. I'm painting the portrait of a retired plumber for twohundred francs. "(5)

(5) Thispicture, formerly in the possession of a wealthy manufacturer at Lille, whofled from that city on the approach of the Germans, is now in the NationalGallery at Stockholm. The Swede is adept at the gentle pastime of fishing introubled waters.

"How didyou manage that?"

"The womanwhere I get my bread recommended me. He'd told her he was looking out forsomeone to paint him. I've got to give her twenty francs. "

"What's helike?"

"Splendid.He's got a great red face like a leg of mutton, and on his right cheek there'san enormous mole with long hairs growing out of it. "

我们开始走棋。两个人的精神都被当前的一局棋吸引住。一盘棋下完以后，我对他说：

“你听我说，如果你缺钱花，让我去看看你的画怎么样？如果有我喜欢的，我会买你一幅。”

“你见鬼去吧！”他说。

他站起来准备走，我把他拦住了。

“你还没有付酒帐呢。”我笑着说。

他骂了我一句，把钱往桌上一扔就走了。

这件事过去以后，我有几天没有看见他，但是有一天晚上我正坐在咖啡馆里看报纸的时候，思特里克兰德走了过来，在我身旁边坐下。

“你原来并没有上吊啊。”我说。

“没有。有人请我画一幅画。我现在正给一个退休的铅管工画像，可以拿到两百法郎。”①

①这幅画原来在里尔的一个阔绰的厂商手里，德国人逼近里尔时他逃赴外地。现在这幅画收藏在斯德哥尔摩国家美术馆。瑞典人是很善于这种混水摸鱼的小把戏的。（作者注）

“你怎么弄到这笔买卖的？”

“卖我面包的那个女人把我介绍去的。他同她说过，要找一个人给他画像。我得给她二十法郎介绍费。”

“是怎样一个人？”

“太了不起了。一张大红脸象条羊腿。右脸上有一颗大痣，上面还长着大长毛。”