The Book of Three Hundred Anecdotes : Historical, Literary, and Humorous (Illustrated) (Electronic book text)

Ditto.-Two gentlemen were at a coffee-house, when the discourse fell upon Sir Joshua Reynold's painting; one of them said that "his tints were admirable, but the colours flew." It happened that Sir Joshua was in the next box, who taking up his hat, accosted them thus, with a low bow-"Gentlemen, I return you many thanks for bringing me off with flying colours."