West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-04-26


lowing week at the end Of the sale Of
Count Mirabean's china. Count Mira
beau was a name dear 10 connoisseurs.
and even celebrated outside the charmed
circle. He was, in fact, hierophant of
the china fetish.
II should like 20 see this collection OF
Count Mirabeau's they talk so much
about i'm the papers" stid AIr. lanes
Fitzroy. 'I think we will 20 TO the
sale.n
With this view, when the day arrived.
they went, prepared to swallow quietly
their own and the vasesD comparative
insignificance. On their arrival in King
street they found the rooms, OF course.
crowded with gentlemen and dealers.
The time fixed for the sale had not yet
some
Making their way with difficulty
through the room, Mr.. aud Mrs. Fitzroy
met an acquaintance from the Midland
shire in which they lived.
'Hallo, Fitzroy what are you doing
heref never knew You were a nlaniac
What brings you TO Christie's on a
china dayl"
81 don't go in for this sort of thing
rs rule, but thought should like to
see Count Mirabcau's collection. They
talk SO much about it. Besides, have
a little thing in the sale myself
The friend did not heed the last part OF
the remark, but answered the first.
'Oh, Count NIirabeaul Yes, that is fine
enough, confess; but IL is nothing com
pared TO some CHINA at the further end
of the room. You come this way and l
will show you" The trio threaded their
way to remote corner OF the sale-room.
passing as rapidly as might be great
quantity of very handsome china which
was arranged and ticketed ready for
sale. At the end, remote from the door
and near the rostrum, under two glass
molds, on a table stood their own two
vases
''There, look at that, " remarks the
friend complacently, with the gentle
patronage of superior knowledge. "That
is china II you like worth any other
ten pieces in the room. Quite nuidueln
Hang it," said Mr.. Fitzroy. II need
not have come all this way to see those
vases. Why, they are minew
Yours, Fitzroy / like that You
have turned humorist in your old age.
Don't you wish they were, by Jovel You
must take care of your husband, Mrs.
FitzrOy. lie works too hard
''Thank you for the insinuation,
Somerset am sane enough to know
my own property when see it. / tell
you those vases that you think such lot
Of are mine. sent them TO Christie.
The tone and the words were too earnest
TO be mistaken.
BY this time the bystanders had heard
the colloquy. and had gathered the i'm
port of what was passing. The dealers
swarmed around Mr.. Fitzroy like vul-
lures upon carrion. They took the facts
and the ''greenne s" IN at a glance.
81 will give you five 'undred pound
for those vases" al will give YOU six
'undred pound for those vases 81 will
give you eight 'undred pound for those
vases" u 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.
Mr.. itzroy was perfectly bewildered,
and ran considerable risk of being re
duced TO the condition Somerset had sug-
gested previously The latter, who was
an old hand. came ID his rescue
Don't be n fool, FitZToy. II they
really are yours, keep "A cool head on
your shoulders. They tell me kilograms
have been on the go all over Europe
about those vases to-day. They arc
worth mint OF money. Don't part 10
any Of these sharks"
On the steps OF the ball the barrister
would have taken twenty pounds for his
chances from that days sale with cheer
ful 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
feltyery like it. But woman's buttress.
curiosity to see the end. sustained her.
IL n 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 mctoneer The Counts
CHINA was indeed magnif cent. and duly
appreciated The bidding was active
and the prices adequate. Nevertheless,
throughout there was a restless feeling
Of impatience. More was coming. The
.tid-bit was kept to the last
There was pause. Then, amidst loud
applause and great excitement. to which
il may be imagined the FitzrOys wore
not wholly insensible. the two vases
were placed before Mr. Woods tho auc.
iioncer, in full view OF the audience.
When silence supervencd, Mr. Woods
said
Gentlemen, we know next 20 nothing
about this china which stands before
YOU. and Of which you have inst testified
your approval We cannot give You its
detailed history. All we know is that
these vases have been hidden away in q
country rectory in the MidIands forforty
years and more Anything further back
soems 20 be absolutely uncertain. Que
iMng, hOwcvcr, we do know Absolutely
The Uniting is the real Rose du Barr
We though there were only five vases In
Europe, The finest existing examples OF
Ibis beautiful ware We nov know
there arc seven. The sixth and seventh
stand before you gentlemen
Another round Of applause greeted
the conclusion Of this short speech. The
bidding begana Mr. and Mfs. James
Fiizroy stood in ihc corner unhoticcd.
btoathless with suppressed excitement
NO one needed them. They again played
second fiddle 20 their oggn propc7tv.
fivo hundred pounds was the first lid
for The pair. a cheer emphasized the
spirited start a cool thousand was.
however soon reached Then tliorc was
% pause. amid silence which could be-
fclt and nlmos, hemd Oniy three bid
crs were left in. Every one understood.
that they were gathering up-thoiF forces
for jhChni conflict.