less porcine and subtracted sufficient flesh from the bulbous nose to
give it a more Roman look. He had also widened and lifted the shoulders
to give a more athletic appearance, and darkened the hair.
Further, he had meticulously caught the fire of the many jewelled rings.
Actually, they dominated the painting, which he felt would find favour
with Lord Chalkin who seemed to have more rings than days of the year.
There!” he said, putting down his brush and standing back from the
painting, satisfied in himself that he had done the best job possible:
that is, the best job that would prove satisfactory’ and allow him to
leave this ghastly Hold.
It’s about time,’ Chalkin said, slipping down from the chair and
stamping over to view the result.
Iantine watched his face, seeing that flash of pleasure before Chalkin’s
usual glum expression settled back over his features.
Chalkin peered more closely, seeming to count the brush strokes although
there were none, for lantine was too competent a technician to have left
any.
Watch the paint. It’s not yet dry,’ Iantine said quickly, raising his
arm to ward off Chalkin’s touch.
Humph,’ Chalkin said, shrugging his shoulders to settle his heavy
jerkin. He affected to be diffident, but the way he kept looking at his
own face told lantine that the man was finally pleased.
Well? Is it satisfactory?” asked lantine, unable to bear the suspense
any longer.
Not bad, not bad but.. – and Chalkin once again put out a finger.
You will not smear the paint, Lord Chalkin,’ said lantine, fearing just
that and then another session to repair the damage.
You’re a rude fellow, painter.
My title is artist, Lord Chalkin, and do tell me if this portrait is
satisfactory or not!
Chalkin gave him a quick nervous glance, one facial muscle twitching.
Even the Lord of Bitra Hold knew when he had pushed someone too hard.
It’s not bad Is it satisfactory, Lord Chalkin?” lantine put all the
pent-up frustration and anxiety into that question.
Chalk in shifted one shoulder, screwed up his face with indecision and
then hastily composed his features in the more dignified pose of the
portrait before him.
Yes, I believe it is satisfactory.
Then,’ and now lantine took Lord Chalkin by the elbow and steered him
towards the door, let us to your office and complete the contract.”
Now, see here .
If it is satisfactory, I have honoured that contract and you may now
settle with me for the miniatures,’ Iantine said, guiding the man down
the cold corridor and to his office. He tapped his foot impatiently as
Chalkin took the keys from his inside pocket and opened the door.
The fire within was so fierce that Iantine felt sweat blossom on his
forehead. At Chalkin’s abrupt gesture, he turned around while the man
fiddled with wherever it was he had his strongbox. He heard, with
infinite relief, the turn of the metal lock and then silence. A
slamming of a lid.
Here you are,’ said Chalkin coldly.
Iantine counted out the marks, sixteen of them, Farmermarks, but good
enough since he would be using them in Benden which didn’t mind
Farmer-marks.
The contracts?” Chalkin glared but he unlocked the drawer and extracted
them, almost flinging them across the desk at lantine, who signed his
name and turned them back to Chalkin.
Use mine,’ Iantine said when Chalkin made a show of finding a good pen
in the clutter on his desk.
Chalkin scrawled his name.
Date it,’ lantine added, wishing to have no complaint at ,-i later
time.
You want too much, painter.
Artist, Lord Chalkin,’ Iantine said with a humourless smile and turned
to leave. At the door he turned again. And don’t touch the painting
for forty-eight hours. I will not come back if you smear it.
It was satisfactory when we left the room, so keep it that way.
lantine returned to collect his good brushes, but left what remained of
the paints he had had to make. Last night, in a hopeful mood, he had
packed everything else. Now, he took the stairs up two and three at a
time, stored his brushes carefully, stuffed the signed and dated