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copy of Leonardo's 〃Last Supper；〃 and a copy of this very 〃Last
Supper；〃 done by Rubini the younger； at Florence； I had known； for
some time； to be in the possession of Nicolino。 This point；
therefore； I considered as sufficiently settled。 I chuckled
excessively when I thought of my acumen。 It was the first time I
had ever known Wyatt to keep from me any of his artistical secrets；
but here he evidently intended to steal a march upon me； and
smuggle a fine picture to New York； under my very nose； expecting
me to know nothing of the matter。 I resolved to quiz him WELL； now
and hereafter。
One thing； however； annoyed me not a little。 The box did NOT go
into the extra stateroom。 It was deposited in Wyatt's own； and
there； too； it remained； occupying very nearly the whole of the
floorno doubt to the exceeding discomfort of the artist and his
wife；this the more especially as the tar or paint with which it
was lettered in sprawling capitals； emitted a strong； disagreeable；
and； to my fancy； a peculiarly disgusting odor。 On the lid were
painted the words〃Mrs。 Adelaide Curtis； Albany； New York。 Charge
of Cornelius Wyatt； Esq。 This side up。 To be handled with care。〃
Now； I was aware that Mrs。 Adelaide Curtis； of Albany； was the
artist's wife's mother；but then I looked upon the whole address
as a mystification； intended especially for myself。 I made up my
mind； of course； that the box and contents would never get farther
north than the studio of my misanthropic friend； in Chambers
Street； New York。
For the first three or four days we had fine weather； although the
wind was dead ahead； having chopped round to the northward；
immediately upon our losing sight of the coast。 The passengers
were； consequently； in high spirits and disposed to be social。 I
MUST except； however； Wyatt and his sisters； who behaved stiffly；
and； I could not help thinking； uncourteously to the rest of the
party。 Wyatt's conduct I did not so much regard。 He was gloomy；
even beyond his usual habitin fact he was MOROSEbut in him I
was prepared for eccentricity。 For the sisters； however； I could
make no excuse。 They secluded themselves in their staterooms
during the greater part of the passage； and absolutely refused；
although I repeatedly urged them； to hold communication with any
person on board。
Mrs。 Wyatt herself was far more agreeable。 That is to say； she was
CHATTY； and to be chatty is no slight recommendation at sea。 She
became EXCESSIVELY intimate with most of the ladies； and； to my
profound astonishment； evinced no equivocal disposition to coquet
with the men。 She amused us all very much。 I say 〃amused〃and
scarcely know how to explain myself。 The truth is； I soon found
that Mrs。 W。 was far oftener laughed AT than WITH。 The gentlemen
said little about her； but the ladies； in a little while；
pronounced her 〃a good…hearted thing； rather indifferent looking；
totally uneducated； and decidedly vulgar。〃 The great wonder was；
how Wyatt had been entrapped into such a match。 Wealth was the
general solutionbut this I knew to be no solution at all； for
Wyatt had told me that she neither brought him a dollar nor had any
expectations from any source whatever。 〃He had married；〃 he said；
〃for love； and for love only； and his bride was far more than
worthy of his love。〃 When I thought of these expressions； on the
part of my friend； I confess that I felt indescribably puzzled。
Could it be possible that he was taking leave of his senses？ What
else could I think？ HE； so refined； so intellectual； so
fastidious； with so exquisite a perception of the faulty； and so
keen an appreciation of the beautiful！ To be sure； the lady seemed
especially fond of HIMparticularly so in his absencewhen she
made herself ridiculous by frequent quotations of what had been
said by her 〃beloved husband； Mr。 Wyatt。〃 The word 〃husband〃
seemed foreverto use one of her own delicate expressionsforever
〃on the tip of her tongue。〃 In the meantime； it was observed by
all on board； that he avoided HER in the most pointed manner； and；
for the most part； shut himself up alone in his state…room； where；
in fact； he might have been said to live altogether； leaving his
wife at full liberty to amuse herself as she thought best； in the
public society of the main cabin。
My conclusion； from what I saw and heard； was； that； the artist； by
some unaccountable freak of fate； or perhaps in some fit of
enthusiastic and fanciful passion； had been induced to unite
himself with a person altogether beneath him； and that the natural
result； entire and speedy disgust； had ensued。 I pitied him from
the bottom of my heartbut could not； for that reason； quite
forgive his incommunicativeness in the matter of the 〃Last Supper。〃
For this I resolved to have my revenge。
One day he came upon deck； and； taking his arm as had been my wont；
I sauntered with him backward and forward。 His gloom； however
（which I considered quite natural under the circumstances）； seemed
entirely unabated。 He said little； and that moodily； and with
evident effort。 I ventured a jest or two； and he made a sickening
attempt at a smile。 Poor fellow！as I thought of HIS WIFE； I
wondered that he could have heart to put on even the semblance of
mirth。 At last I ventured a home thrust。 I determined to commence
a series of covert insinuations； or innuendoes； about the oblong
boxjust to let him perceive； gradually； that I was NOT altogether
the butt； or victim； of his little bit of pleasant mystification。
My first observation was by way of opening a masked battery。 I
said something about the 〃peculiar shape of THAT box；〃and； as I
spoke the words； I smiled knowingly； winked； and touched him gently
with my forefinger in the ribs。
The manner in which Wyatt received this harmless pleasantry
convinced me； at once； that he was mad。 At first he stared at me
as if he found it impossible to comprehend the witticism of my
remark； but as its point seemed slowly to make its way into his
brain； his eyes； in the same proportion； seemed protruding from
their sockets。 Then he grew very redthen hideously palethen；
as if highly amused with what I had insinuated； he began a loud and
boisterous laugh； which； to my astonishment； he kept up； with
gradually increasing vigor； for ten minutes or more。 In
conclusion； he fell flat and heavily upon the deck。 When I ran to
uplift him； to all appearance he was DEAD。
I called assistance； and； with much difficulty； we brought him to
himself。 Upon reviving he spoke incoherently for some time。 At
length we bled him and put him to bed。 The next morning he was
quite recovered； so far as regarded his mere bodily health。 Of his
mind I say nothing； of course。 I avoided him during the rest of
the passage； by advice of the captain； who seemed to coincide with
me altogether in my views of his insanity； but cautioned me to say
nothing on this head to any person on boa