St. Paul daily globe., 1890-05-12
LORD JOHNS BARGAIN.

Belgravia.
My brother-in-law, Lord John ST.
Pierre, regarded with no little com.
placencY his own possessions and
achievements. He was proud. in the
first place. of tue fact that he was st.
Pierre, and at the same time considered
himself competent representative of
the talents and graces of the ancient
and lllustrious house of Stoneyhurst.
In the next place he was very proud Of
his reputation as one of the best shots
at driven game in the United Kingdom,
and of his consequent entree into many
country houses where only brilliant
shots were welcomed. He was also
proud, very proud, of his own perfect
manners, and plumed himself, not with
out cause. on his insinuating address.
1t was on his reputation, however,
as successful collector of China,
that he principally piqued himself,
and the trifllng sums which he had
paid for various articles of vertu which
Ornamented his rooms at the Albany
tiOn. Indeed. if all he said was true,
and If all the China was really genuine,
ne fully deserved all the congratula-
tions which he claimed.
Nor did he fail to see how valuable
were the three aforementioned qualifica-
tiOns in their reference to this latter
pursuit. Many cOttager, who would
have refused to sell his precious little
heirlOOmS to the travelling dealer, was
only too proud to part with them, at
perhaps lower price, to Lord John
Lord John, too. who spoke so prettiIy
and made himself so agreeable. 1t was
grand to think that some little figure or
cup and saucer which had stood unno-
ticed in the cupboard, should take it's
place, as the seller fondly imagined
would be the case, among the priceless
gems of Stoneyhurst Abbey.
Johns presence, too. at so many
sporting places gave him opportunities
of admission into the interiors of cot
tagers' and keepers houses which
might not otherwise have been OBJ
tanned. 1t Is not given to everyone to
be district visitor, tax collector. or
schOol-attendance officer, and without
such OF similar professions: it is not easy
to gain an introduction unin ylted to the
homes of the poor. Lord John, how
ever, had special privileges, and he lost
no opportunities of availing himself Of
the facilities offered by shooting lunch
cons in farm houses or keepers lodges
on the different properties over which
he shot.
A few winters ago my brother-in-laW
came to shoot at my home, Pen Owen
Court, in Monmoutbshire. Knowing,as
I did, how unfavorably the bags even
On my best days compare with the
slaughter to which John was accuS-
toned. had had some hesitation in in
viting him into such an out-Of- f-the-Way
part of the world.
He had heard. however, of the won
derful stand at Eastield Coppice, said
to be perhaps the most difficult sporting
in England. and was anxious to try his
hand at our "Rocketers." I had no
possible objection, and he was invited
for three days shooting.
A sad and mysterious calamity. how
ever, in connection with the death of
one of the beaters, happened on the
first day, and the unhappy incident
prevented US from carrying out the
weeks programme.
Guests who have no resources to oc-
cupy them, when sport fails, are nat
urally difficult to entertain. and conse-
quently | was not altogether sorry when
my visitors, with the exception Of Lord
John, decided upon taking their de-
parture on the morning which sue
ceeded the catastrophe.
He, however, remained, and In the
course of the afternoon announced his
intention of going up to the keepers
house. where he had lunched on the
previous day, and, of course, offered
to walk there with him. Rather to my
surprise. he seemed to have no particu-
lar desire for my society, and 1 began to
wonder if his projected visit had any
connection with the mysterious affair to
which have alluded. At any rate, l
determined to accompany him, and on
the way was made confdant of his
lordship's intentions. On the previous
day he had noticed two china figures on
the keepers chimney-plece, and,
though with connOiSSeur's natural
suspicion. he had at the time done moth
ing to attract general attention to them,
reason to believe that they were old
Dresden. He imagined them to be
of great value, and had de-
termined to pick them up
as cheaply as he could.
l have never quite been able to make
up my mind about the morality Of such
a proceeding, but l thoroughly disliked
the idea of any one 'picking up" d
valuable article "cheap" from one Of
my own retainers, and as it we're under
my own sanction. However, l deter
mined to bide my time and see what
happened.
John annoyed me very much at the
first opening of negotiations. He began
by asking Mrs. Rawlins, whose hus-
band was not at home, questions about
the family of the dead beater, with ex-
pressions of the most profound sym
pathy for his orphaned daughter. Of
course there was no harm in these in
quiries, indeed, they were quite natural.
But the queStiOner'S manner was so
affected, and his expressions of regret
and sympathy SO exaggerated, that l
could scarcely believe their sincerity,
and felt sure that he was thinking more
of the Dresden figures than of poor
Nelly.
The next proceeding consisted of
glance round the room in affected ad-
miration of various ornaments with
which Ii was decorated. Some mis-
shapen stuffed birds, some tawdrY
prints, even some hideOuS compositions
of shells and moss, came in by turns for
their share Of admiration. And then at
last with a look at the two figures on
the mantelpiece.
"Oh, by-the-by. Mrs. Hawkins"
John always managed to get his VIC
TINS names correctly "what are those
china groups? Have you. had them
long?"
s'That china. my lord, was present
from smy grandmother. and set great
store by it,"
q easily follow my brother-in-law's
calculation. Mrs. Rawlin's grand
mother! The things must be 100 years
old, at least!'')
"Have you any fancy to part with
themr' he continued. 81 don't suppose
they are worth much, but should like
4 little remembrance Of Monmouth
shire, and of our pleasant lunch here
yesterday"
''Oh, my lord, if 1t wasn't for Raw
Inns, should be glad to give them to
your lordship. or with glance at mel
any gentleman staying at the court"
q wonder what his lordship would
have said If had not been presently
s'Oh, no. Mrs. Rawlins, l can't think
of taking them for nothing"
"Well, my lord, doubt If my grand
mother, if she'd ha' been alive, would
have liked the idea of my selling her
3 presents"