Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-05-05

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their advice, the vases were sent I'M to
King street, st. James's Square, to be
inspected, and sold for what they would
fetch.
sLet us have little jaunt up to town,
my DEAR" remarked Mr.. James Fitzroy
to his wife; ''if the 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 long time" Like John Gilpin.
when proposing a similar excursion,
MIR. Fitzroy was unaware that the future
was big with fate. There the simile
breaks down.
Accordingly, to town they went, put
ting up at the Bedford Hotel, in Covent
Garden. After few days spent in en-
joyment Mr.. Fitzroy received a notice
from Christie & Manson that his vases
would be sold on certain day the fol-
lowing week at the end of the sale Of
Count Mirabcau's china. Count Mira
beau was a name dear to connoisseurs.
and even celebrated outside the charmed
circle. He was, in fact, 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. II think we will go to the
sale."
With this view, when the day arrived,
they went, prepared to swallow quietly
their own land the vasesO comparative
insignifcance. 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 vet
some.
Making their way with difficulty
through the room, Mr.. and Mrs. Fitzroy
met an acquaintance from the Midland
shire in which they lived.
"Hallo, Fitzroyl what are you doing
here2 / never knew you were a maniac.
What brings you to Christie's on a
china day2'
'Tdon't go in for this sort of thing
as rule, but 1 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 Mirabeaul Yes, that is fine
enough, | confess but it is nothing COM
pared to some china at the further end
of the room. You come this way and i
will show you" The trio threaded their
way to a 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
eola bo and 70 frnrv, kho dnnr
and near the rostrum, under two glass
molds, 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 uniquel"
Hang Il" said Mr.. Fitzroy. II need
not have come all this way to see those
vases. Why, they are minel"
"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. He works too hard"
"Thank you for the insinuation,
Somerset. / am sane enough to know
my own property when l see it. 1 tell
you those vases that you think such lot
of are mine. 1 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 "greenness" In at Q glance.
81 will give you five 'undred pound
for those vases" 81 will give you six
'undred pound for those vases" 81 will
give you eight 'undred pound Tor those
vases" II 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.. Fitzroy 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 to his rescue.
Don't be a fool, Fitzroy. If they
really are yours, keep cool head on
your shoulders. They tell me kilograms
have been on the 20 all over Europe
about those vases to-day. They are
worth a mint of money. Don't part 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 cheer
.ul 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, sustained her.
/ If woman were not curious, she would
lie 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
md the prices adequate. Nevertheless,
throughout there was a restless feeling
of impatience. More was coming. The
id-bit was kept TO the last.
There was pause. Then, amidst loud
applause and great excitement, to which
il may be imagined the Fitzroys were
lot wholly insensible, the two vases
A l.. L.