San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-07-05
MY NOBLE FRIEND


Perhaps you may have heard it cited as being
that of one of the best known collectors of
bric-a-brac in the United States. You see,
when man has money and no children he
must turn his attention to something, and
antique snuff boxes and old Sevres cost less,
in the long run, than stocks, and the Hotel
Drouot is a far less ruinous place to frequent
than Wall street. | always pay long visit
to Paris every year, and | think that is what
keeps Mrs Gray contented, and reconciles
her to my taste as a collector. For, between
ourselves, l do not think she appreciates
Louis XVI fan as highly as one in ostrich
feathers and tortoiseshell, and as to old
Rouen ware, she has more than once declared
that she would bake pies in the plates If she
had her own way. However, she likes some
of my acquisitions very much, especially
when they take the form of old Venetian
lace or antique jewelry.
1t was my fondness for bric-a-brac that
first led to my making the acquaintance of
my friend the viscount. had news of
second hand shop at Compiegne where there
were some real treasures, in the way of old
weapons and ecclesiastical embroideries, to
be had at a bargain. So, one day set off
by the midday train for that town. 1t was
a pleasant day in early winter, and the cars
were fairly well filed, but in the first class
compartment in which was installed there
was but one other traveller. He was quite
young man, not more than % or "a. should
think, well dressed and well hammered and
decidedly good looking. We struck up an
acquaintance before we had gone many miles
through the medium of an exchange of news
papers, he very kindly offering to let me
have his copy of ILLUSTRATION for The
Figaro, that | had read through from the
first line to the last. Then | asked him some
questions relative to fine old chateau sur
rounded with woods that the train was pass
ing, and SO we soon fell into quite an ami
mated conversation. | found out that he
lived at Compiegne, and some questions re-
speeding the bric-a-brac dealer to whose shop
| was bound elected from him the informa-
ton that he, too, was something of a col
lector. He had a number of anecdotes to
tell me about the noted private collections of
Paris, concerning which he seemed to be I'M
commonly well informed, and so the time
passed very agreeably and rapidly till we
reached our destination.
We had left Paris under the pale sunshine
Of a pleasant winter day, but on issuing from
the station at Compiegne we found the rain
falling in torrents. Now, if there is one
thing that | dislike above another it is to
carry an umbrella, a most unfortunate pecu-
liarity for any person who comes often to
stay in Paris, where it usually rains some
time in every day from October to May,
Still that is one of my peculiarities, and
though Mrs. Gray has often lectured me con-
corning it, saying that it is better to carry
an umbrella for week when it does not rain
than to be without it one day that it does, |
always slip out with my cane whenever |
can contrive to do so in tolerably pleasant
weather had got away cleverly, cane in
hand, on that especial day, and, of course, it
poured just to spite me. My new acquaint-
ance instantly unfurled his umbrella and
offered to walk with me to the shop which
formed my destination.
But perhaps" he remarked, 'you had bet
ter come home with me and wait till the rain
has somewhat subsidized 1t cannot continue
to pour after this fashion very long"
Then seeing that | hesitated little, he
continues:
"After all, you do not know my name !
ought to have introduced myself to you be
fore asking you to become my guest"
And he extracted from a neat little port
folio in Russian leather, stamped with a
monogram and a coronet, which he took from
a side pocket, a card which he presented to
me, and on which was engraved the name,
'Viscount Roger de Chantauzy."
gave him my card in exchange, and will
ingly accepted his kind invitation, for the
storm was increasing in violence, and being
not altogether free from tendency to rheu-
matism, was glad to get under shelter for a
while.
The house to which the viscount conducted
me was situated on one of the side streets not
far from the station Its aspect rather dis
appointed me- l had pictured to myself an
antique chateau with spacious grounds and a
venerable aspect But the home of my new
friend was evidently not the ancestral hall
of his race. 1t was a small house-one of the
little modern villas wherewith the suburban
towns of Paris abouud-fnished on the ex-
terror with brick and white stone, and re-
dolent of newness. The garden was small
likewise, and boosted at that season of the
year some three or four leafess saplings for
sole garniture. A number of fowls were run
ming about, pecking and scratching at the
bare grass plat, unheeding the rain. The
Ylscount opened the 'front.' door WIN MS latcn
key, and after installing me in the drawing
room he excused himself and went in search
of his wife.
Left alone, naturally proceeded to inves-
tigate the apartment never saw so oddly
furnished a room in my life The carpet
was snowy, light colored moquette, of the
very cheapest character, and though it had
evidently not been long in use, 1t already
bore signs of wear. The window curtains
were in raw silk, worth. as knew by fire.
auent visits with my wife to the Bon Marche
and Magasin du Louvre, just s. the set The