The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-11

GltZrOy 10 MS WIG, II une china is all
they say, the vases ought to fetch ten
pound note each, and that will pay our
expenses. We have not had holiday
for a long time" Like John Gilpin,
when proposing a similar excursion,
Mr.. Fitzroy was unaware that the
future was big with fate. There the
smile breaks down.
Accordingly to town they went, put
ting up at the Bedford Hotel in Covent
Garden. After few days spent in the
extremely innocent enjoyment in which
married men indulge in London, when
they have their wives with them, Mr..
Fitzroy received notice from Christie
Il Manson that his vases would be sold
on a certain day the following week at
the end of the sale of Count Mirabeau's
china. Count Mirabeau was a name
dear to connoisseurs, and even cele-
brated outside the charmed circle. He
was, in fact, a hierophant of the china
fetish.
81 should like to see this collection
of Count Mirabeau's they talk so much
about in the papers," said Mr.. James
Fitzroy. 81 think we will 90 to the
SALE"
With this view, when the day ar
rived they went, prepared to swallow
quietly their own (and the vases) COM
parative insignifcance. On their ar
rival in King street they found the
rooms, of course, crowded with gentle
men and dealers. The time fixed for
the sale had not yet come.
Making their way with difficulty
through the room, Mr.. and Mrs. Fitz-
roy met an acquaintance from the
Midland shire in which they lived.
Halo, Fitzroy! what are you doing
here? / never knew you were maniac.
What brings you to Christie's on a
china day?"
81 don't go in for this sort of thing
as a rule, but thought l should like to
see Count Mirabeau's collection, they
talk so much about it. Besides, | have
little thing in the sale MYSELF
The friend did not heed the last part
of the remark, but answered the first.
Oh, Count Mirabeau Yes, that is
fine enough, confess, but it is nothing
compared to some china at the further
end of the room. You come this way
and will show you" The trio threaded
theirway to remote corner of the sales
room, passing as rapidly as might be a
great quantity of very handsome china,
which was arranged and ticketed ready
for the sale. AT the end, remote from
the door and near the rostrum, under
two glass moulds on table stood their
own two vases.
"There, look at that" remarks the
friend, complacently, with the gentle
patronage of superior knowledge.
" That is china if you like-worth any
other ten pieces in the room. Quite
unique!"
Hang i'll" said Mr.. Fitzroy. 81
need not have come all this way to see
those vases. Why, they are minev'
Yours, Fitzroy! like that You
have turned humorist in your old age.
Don't you wish they were! You must
take care of your husband, Mrs. Fitz-
roy. He works too hard"
THANK you for the insinuation,
Somerset. l am sane enough TO know
my own property when l see it. l tell
you those vases that you think such
lot of are mine. l sent them to
Christie" The tone and the words
were too earnest TO be mistaken.
BY this time the bvstanders had
heard the colloquy and had gathered
the import of what was passing. The
dealers swarmed round Mr.. Fitzroy like
vutures upon carrion. They took the
facts and the "greenness " in at a
glance.
81 will give you vive 'undred pound
for those vases" {" / will give you six
hundred pound for those vases" 81
will give you eight 'undred pound for
those vases" /" will give you more
than any man in England for those
vases on the table, sir" Such were
the cries which resounded on all hands.
Jew and Gentle for once had found
subject on which they could agree.
Mr.. Ftzroy was perfectly bewildered
and ran considerable risk of being re-
duced to the condition Somerset had
suggested previously. The latter, who
was an old hand, came to his rescue.
Don't be a fool, Fitzroy. If they
really are yours keep cool head on
your shoulders. They tell me tele-
grams have been ON the go all over
Europe about those vases to-day. They
are worth a mint of money. Don't
part with them to any of these sharks"
On the steps of the hall the barrister
would have taken twenty pounds for
his chances from that days sale with
cheerful alacrity.
Mrs. Fitzroy was looking very white.
The sudden turn affairs had taken was
almost too much for her.
"Don't faint, my DEAR" remarked
her husband. The advice was needed.
She felt very like it. But woman's
buttress, curiosity to see the end, sus-
tanned her. If woman were not
curious, she would die more often than
she does.
The sale began. Count Mirabeau's
collection was sold first. The junior
partner was the auctioneer. The counts
china was indeed magnificent and duly
appreciated The bidding was active
and the prices adequate. Neverthe-
less, throughout there was a restless
feeling of impotence. More was COM
ing. The bonnie bouche was kept to
the last
There was pause. Then, amidst
loud applause and great excitement, to
which it may be imagined the Fitzroys
were not wholly insensible, the two