The Outcry Book I Chapter VII

In which a distinguished visitor, Mr. Bender, engages in a spirited and somewhat playful negotiation with Lord Theign concerning the value and potential acquisition of a cherished painting, whilst the interplay between art, ownership, and subtle personal interests unfolds with gentlemanly wit. Observations are made with a delicate balance of irony and earnestness, as the characters navigate the idiosyncrasies of taste and the unspoken codes of respectability within a grand English household.