The Dynamic Narrator

The narrator in Henry James' short story "The Real Thing" is an artist that has to deal with a series of things when a wealthy looking couple come in to his work to try to be models. At the beginning of the story, the narrator is happy and excited that the Monarchs come into his gallery because he thinks they want to purchase some of his artwork, however they end up wanting to be models for his work because they have gone broke. This makes the narrator skeptical, but he gives them a chance because he assumes that they will do good if they are playing the part of a wealthy couple. The Monarchs set their standards too high but are awful models. This makes the narrator frustrated with his work. Eventually, he tries to get rid of the Monarchs, but after they come back he forces them to work as servants until he cannot take the strangeness any longer. The narrator finally gives them a sum of money and sets them free and never sees them again. The narrator says this at the end of the story "If it be true I am content to have paid the price- for the memory" because he is saying that even though he lost a good reputation by dealing with the Monarchs, he is glad he did it so he won't ever do it again.