At  length  the  hour  arrived,  and  the  Duke
Sforza,  accompanied  by  the  principal  nobility
of  Milan,  proceeded  in  state  to  the  Dominican
monastery,  and  gave  orders  that  the  refectory
should  be  thrown  open.  The  picture,  which
was  upon  the  wall  at  one  end,  was  concealed
by  a  curtain  ;  and  the  artist  stood  with  his
eyes  cast  down,  and  an  expression  of  deep
dejection.  There  was  a  confused  murmur
of  voices.  Curiosity  and  eager  expectation
were  expressed  in  every  countenance  but
that  of  the  Prior's ;  on  his  sat  triumphant
revenge  ;  the  picture,  he  was  confident,  was
unfinished  in  the  most  impoftant  figiues,  as
he  had  himself  seen  it  so  on  the  preceding
day.
72  LIONARDO    DA    VINCI.
"  Let  the  curtain  be  withdrawn,"  said  the
Duke.
Lionardo  moved  not — the  deep  emotion
of  the  artist  rendered  him  powerless.
The  Dominican,  unable  to  comprehend
such  feelings,  was  confirmed  in  the  belief
that  the  withdrawing  of  the  cmtain  would
be  the  death-warrant  of  Lionardo ;  —  he
hastily  seized  the  string,  and  by  a  sudden
pull  the  curtain  opened,  and  the  Last  Supper
of  Lionardo  da  Vinci  stood  revealed  to  the
world.
Not  a  sound  for  a  few  moments  broke  the
stillness  that  prevailed :  at  length  murmurs
of  applause  were  heard,  increasing,  as  the
influence  of  the  glorious  work  fell  fuller  upon
the  eirthusiastic  minds  of  the  Italians,  to
raptures.  The  Duke  arose  and  stood  before
Lionardo.  "  Well,  noble  Florentine,  hast
thou  atoned  for  thy  fault  ;  I  am  proud  to
forgive  thee  all.  On  —  on,  to  glory,  to  im-
mortality—  high  rewards  shall  be  thine.
