:47:00
My friends are the best people.
I don't mean they're the most virtuous...
:47:05
...or, indeed, the least virtuous,
or the cleverest...
:47:08
...or the stupidest,
richest or best born.
:47:12
But, the best.
:47:13
In a word, people about whom
there is no question.
:47:18
I cannot promise how long it will take.
:47:21
You can appreciate
it is not an easy matter.
:47:25
But, any gentleman with an estate,
and 30,000 a year...
:47:30
...should have a peerage.
:47:36
And there standing behind me
was a total stranger.
:47:39
I looked at him, and he said to me:
:47:42
"Excuse me, sir, could you tell me,
is Lord Wendover alive or dead?"
:47:49
I was so astonished,
I couldn't think of what to say.
:47:51
Then I became angry,
and said to him, "He's dead."
:47:55
The striving after this peerage was
one of Barry's most unlucky dealings.
:48:01
He made great sacrifices
to bring it about.
:48:05
He lavished money here,
and diamonds there.
:48:09
He bought lands
at ten times their value...
:48:12
...purchased pictures and articles
of virtue at ruinous prices.
:48:17
He gave entertainments
to those friends to his claim...
:48:21
...all, being about the Royal person,
were likely to advance it.
:48:26
And, I can tell you, bribes were
administered. And in high places, too.
:48:33
So near the person of His Majesty
that you would be astonished to know...
:48:37
...what great noblemen condescended
to receive his loans.
:48:45
This is by Ludovico Cordi...
:48:47
...a disciple of Alessandro Allori.
:48:51
It's dated 1605...
:48:54
...and shows,
"The Adoration of The Magi."
:48:59
It's beautiful.