The Mysterious Commission Read Online Free

‘I’ll see what can be done.’
    ‘I’m sure I’m very grateful, sir. As Mr X’s relatives will be.’
    ‘Ah, yes – the relatives. Perhaps, Mr Peach, you wouldn’t mind telling me–’
    ‘But now another question, Mr Honeybath. If you are likely to feel a little pressed for time, sir, I wonder whether we could assist you in any way? Photographs of Mr X, for example – would they be likely to be of any use to you?’
    ‘Definitely not. I have nothing against the practice of employing photographs, and am aware that many of my most highly reputed colleagues do so.’ Honeybath was going into an impressive routine. ‘It would be entirely naïve to suppose that a portrait-painter is cheating when he employs such a resource. But it is simply not my habit. I begin by making my own sketches in pencil or crayon. There may be a dozen of them before I think of doing more than merely squaring up the canvas.’
    ‘That’s very interesting – very interesting, indeed.’ And Peach really did seem genuinely impressed. He was looking sharply at Honeybath. ‘On paper, sir, or something of the kind, these sketches would be?’
    ‘Certainly.’
    ‘And they could be passed round? Mr X himself could have the handling of them?’
    ‘There’s no reason at all why he should not. Hold on to them, if he cared to.’
    ‘Well, Mr Honeybath, I’ll remember that. Something of a child, Mr X is, as I think I’ve hinted to you. Likes to have something to play with. And to show around.’
    ‘I see.’ Honeybath was faintly puzzled by this further twaddle. ‘And now, I’m afraid there is at least one question I must ask you . Where is this portrait you are requesting me to paint going to hang?’
    ‘To hang?’ For the first time, Peach appeared to be taken by surprise, and to find himself stumped for an answer. His instructions, perhaps, hadn’t run to this point. ‘Is the question material, Mr Honeybath?’
    ‘Of course it’s material. The scale of the thing; the pose, whether formal or relaxed; the lighting; the whole compositional key: these are all involved with the matter. You speak of Mr X’s relations as arranging the commission, which makes me incline to the supposition that the portrait is destined for a domestic setting. But I may be wrong. For all I know’ – Honeybath permitted himself a slight note of asperity – ‘your Mr X may be a retired bishop in some more than usually embarrassing stage of mental decay, and the picture destined for Lambeth Palace. Or he may have been a professor of Lord knows what, so that my work will end up in the great hall of Balliol College or Christ Church or in the London Senate House. Or he may have been an Alderman or a Lord Mayor–’
    ‘He certainly hasn’t been that, Mr Honeybath.’ Peach checked himself, and looked guilty. He had presumably been forbidden to make any positive statement whatever about the shadowy Mr X. ‘But I can tell you this. Mr X is to hang in very distinguished company – very distinguished company, indeed. Make no mistake about it. He’s been a man right at the top of his class in his time.’
    ‘I’m delighted to hear it.’ And it was certainly true that Honeybath’s curiosity was pricked. There had, for once, been an unmistakable ring of truth in Peach’s voice. He meant what he said. But Honeybath was not, in fact, all that pleased. Two thousand guineas tumbling in during a hard-up spell was quite something, but he still had his reputation to consider. Despite the hugger-mugger nature of the proposed transaction, it was not inconceivable that the portrait was really booked for some august place. He didn’t fancy the notion of a skimped and slapdash Honeybath finding itself on a line between a Reynolds and a Gainsborough, or for that matter between a Sutherland and Kokoschka. The mere thought of such a thing turned him cold. He almost saw those banknotes, tucked away so snugly in their drawer, turning to dust and ashes as they lay.