Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-03-13

Convent Garden. After a few days
spent in the extremely innocent en-
ioyment in which married men indulge
in London, when they have their
wives with them, MIR. Fitzroy received
notice from Christie & Manson that
his vases would be sold on certain
day the following week, at the end of
the sale of the Count Mirabeau's
china Count Mirabeau was name
dear to connoisseurs, and even cele-
brated outside the charmed circle. He
was, in fact, a hierophant Of the china
fetish.
''I should like to see this collection
Of Count Mirabeau's they talk SO much
about in the papers, said Mr.. James
Fitzroy. ''I think we will go to the
sale''
With this view, when the day ar
rived, they went prepared to swallow
quietly their own and the vases com,
parative insignifcance. On their ar
rival in King street they found the
rooms, of course, crowded with gen
tlemen and dealers. The time fixed
for the sale had not yet come.
Making their way with difficulty
through the room, Mr.. and Mrs Fitz-
roy met an acquaintance from the
Midland shire in which they lived.
"Hallo, Fitzroy! What are you do
ing here? I never knew you were
maniac What brings you to Christie's
on china day?,.'
ct don't go in for this sort Of thing
as a rule, but thought I would like
to see Count Mirabeau's collection.
They talk so much about it. Besides
I have a little thing in the sale my
self"
The friend did not heed the last part
of the remark, but answered the first
ooh, Count Mirabeau! Yes, that is
fine enough, [ confess; but it is moth
ing compared 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 remote
corner of the sale-room, passing as
rapidly as might be a great quantity
of very handsome china, which was
arranged and ticketed ready for the
sale At the end, remote from the
door and near the rostrum, under two
glass moulds, 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 if you like-worth any
other ten pieces in the room. Quite
unique!"
Chang it," said Mr.. Fitzroy. II
need not have come all this way to
see those vases. Why, they are mine"
"Yours, Fitzroy! I like that! You
have turned 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,
Somerset. l 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 import of what was passing. The
dealers swarmed round Mr.. Fitzroy
like vultures upon carrion. They took
the facts and the ''greenness" in at
a glance.
ct will give you vive 'undred pound
for those vases.' 81 will give you six
hundred pound for those vases" II
will give you eight 'undred pound for
those vases.'' FsI will give you more
than any in England for those vases
on the table, sir" Such were the
cries which resounded on all hands.
Jew and Gentle for once had found
subject on which they could agree.
Mr.. Fitzroy was perfectly bewildered,
and ran considerable risk of being re-
duced to the condition Somerset had
suggested previously. The latter, who
was an old hand, came to his rescue.
'sDon't be fool: Fitzroy. If they
really are yours, keep a cool head on
your shoulders. They tell me tele-
grams have been on the go all over
Europe about those vases to day.
They are worth mint of money.
Don't part to any Of these sharks"
On the steps of the hall the harris
ter 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