Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-20
MY NOBLE FRIEND

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 far less ruinous place to frequent
than Wall street l always pay long visit
TO Paris every year, and think that is what
keeps Mrs Gray contented, and reconciles
her to my taste as collector. For, between
ourselves, 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. l had news of
second hand shop at Conpiegne 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 OF
by the midday train for that town. 1t was
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. 1 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
fi.sfii TOD i1a lac4 I
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 conversion. | found out that he
lived at Compiegne, and some questions re-
specting the b1'ic-a-bTac 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 be 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 pleasant winter day, but on issuing from
the station at Cempiegre we found the rain
falling in torrents. Now, if there is one
thing that l dislike above another it is to
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 pecuharities, and
though Mrs Gray has often lectured me con-
corning it, saying that it is better to carry
an umbrella for a week when it does not rain
than to be without it one day that it does, l
always slip out with my cane whenever I
A. - II
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" herenlarked, "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 hee5tated a little, he
continued:
'After all, you DO not know my name I
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, card which he presented to
me, and on which was engraved the name,
''Viscount Roger de Chantsuzy."
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-
matisn, / was glad TO get under ,helter for
while
The house TO which the viseount conducted
me was situated on one of the side streets not
far from the station Its aspect rather dis
appointed me. ] had pictured to myself an
antique chateau with spacious grounds and
venerable aspect. But the home Of my new
friend was evidently not the ancestral hall
Of bis race 1t was a small house-one Of the
little modern villas wherewith the suburban
Downs of Paris abound-finiShed 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 SONIC three or four ieaness saplings for
sole gar1liture. A number Of fowls were rum
ming about, pecking and scratching at the
bare grass plat, unheeding the rain The
viscount opened the front door with his latch
key, and after installing me In the drawing
room be 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 hfe The carpet
was a snowy, light colored moquette, of the
very cheapest character, and though it had
evidently not been long in use It already
bore signs of wear. The window curtains
were in raw silk, worth, as ! knew by ire
guent visits with my wife 10 the Bon Marche
and Magasfn du Louvre, Just IS the set. The
chairs and sofa were In stained black wood,
and were covered with common red Utrecht
velvet. But ora the m2utelpiece stood small
clock and a pair of candle lGbra in antique
and artistic enamel, which would have
brought, not hundreds, but thousands Of dol
lars at any Of the great sEctaon sales Of the
Hotel Drouot, a small cabinet, placed be-
side the Fireplace. held a heterogeneous collec-
ton OF toys and klzick6uacks IN carved ivory,
gilt bronze, enEGlels, etc, and also q nurnber
Of old miniatures and stuff boxes. Some Of
these objects were the veFiest trash, whilst
others were choice and costly rarities. And
OVER the sI1n of the sofa was spread a SQUARE
of lace, which any connniSSeur could rreco--
nize as being antique BRACES point, worth. il .
that quality, some hundreds OF francs the
square inch.
had not much time to look about me, for
in o few inmates the vfsccunt returned, bring
Ing with him his wlfa 1 cannot say that .
was Baach p1eposseSsed by the appearance Of
the viscounteSs. She was undeniabiy pretty,
and welcomed me with infinite courtesy and
cordiAlity. But, early in the day though it
Yves, her cheeks we're rouged and her eyes
artisticaily shaded with black Her yellow
head too, never Owed It's canary plumage to
the hand Of nature she had ane dark eyes,
howevss', and very small waist, though she
was inclined otherwise to emhonpoint Her
hands were large, and the nails irregular and