The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-05-10

Aaktpg tbtf WIN uuhcusty tofoukt
the room. Mr.. aud Mm Fitzroy met ~
scqusinlAnce from the Midland shire ia
which they lived.
Halo. fi,Eroy what ase you doins
here never knew yop we're maniac
What brings you to chri.iss on acbius
day ?"
II don't 90 in for this sort OF thing rs
a rule. but thought should like 70 see
Count Mirabesu's collecsion. They talk
30 mnch about it Besides. have little
thing In the sale myself.
The friend did not heed the last part Of
the remark. bu, answered the first "0h,
Count Mirsbeau Yes. that is fne enough b
| confess, but it is nothing compared to
some china at the further end Of the room.
You come this way and viii show you =
The trio threaded their Wy 70 remote
corner OF the sale room. poDslng = rapid
" as might be great qusr.ily of very
handsome china. which ws2 arsanssd Ard
,icketed ready for the sale. Al the end.
remote from the door aud near the ros-
irum. under two glass moulds. on table
stood their own two vssot.
There. look at that" remarks the
friend complacenily, with the gcntIe pat
ronsge Of superior knowledge. That is
china il you like-worth any other ten
pieces in the room Quite unique
Hang 1t !" said Mr. Fi,sroy. Il need
not have come all this way to see those
vases Why, they are mine.
Yours, Fitzroy like that You
have inrned humorist in your old age.
Don't YOU wish they were. BY Jove You
must take care Of your husband, Mrs.
Fitzroy. He works too hard"
Thank you for the insinuation, Som
erset l am sane enough to know my own
property when see it, tell you those
vases you think such lot Of are mine. l
sent them to Christie. The tone and the
words were too earnest 10 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 round Mr. Fiizroy like vultnres
upon carrion, They took the facts aud
the "greenness" In at "a glance. II will
give you yive undred pound for those
vases. "a will give you six 'undred
pound for those vases" II will give you
eight 'undred pound for those vases" II
will give you more than any man in Eug
land for those vases on the table, sir. Z"
Such were the cries which resonded on
all hands. Jew aud Gentle had for once
found a subject on which they could
agree. Mr.. Fitzroy was perfectly Devil
dered, and ran considerable risk Of being
reduced to the condition somerset had
suggested previously. The latter who
was an old hand came to the rescue.
Don't be q fool, Fitzroy. II they
really are yours. keep cool head on your
shoulders They tell me kilograms have
been on the go oil over Europe about
those vases to- day. They are worth q
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 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, sustained her.
II 3 woman we're not curious, she would
die more often than she does.
The sale began, Count Mirabesu's col
lection was sold first The junior part
ner was the auctioneer. Tho Counts
china was indeed magnificent, and duly
appreciated. The bidding was active, and
the prices adequate. Nevertheless,
there was restless feeling OF
impatience. More was coming. The
bonne bouche was kept to the last.
There was pause. Then, amidst loud
applause aud great excitement, to which
it may be imagined the Nzroys we're not
wholly insensible, the two vases we're
placed before MIR Woods the suctloneer,
in full view Of the audience. When 81
lence supervened, Mr.. Woods said:
Gentlemen, We know next to nothing
about this china which stands before you.
aud OF which you have Just testified your
approval We cannot give You its de-
tailed history. All we know is that these
vases have been hidden away in country
rectory 10 the Midlands for forty years
md more, Anything further back seems
70 be absolutely uncertain. One thing,
however, We do know absolutely; the tint
ng is the real Rose dn Bsrri We thought
here were ouly five vsses 10 All Europe.
he finest existing samples OF tLis beauti
'ul ware We now know there are seven |
The sixth aud seventh stand before you,
gentlemen.
Another round OF applause greeted the
conclusion OF this short speech. The bid
ling began Mr., aud Mrs. James Fitzroy
Itood n the corner unnoticed, breathless
With suppressed excitement. No one
,eeded them. They again played second |
iddle TO their own property.
Five hundred pounds was the first bid
or the pair. A cheer emphasized the
pirited start A cool thousand, however,
vas soon reached Then there WAS . /
,ause, amid silence which could be felt |
Ind almost heard. Oaly three bidders
we're left in. Every one understood that
hey we're gathering mp their forces for
he raaI esttt ntet