The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-01-21

| 2 @.weren't they uncrated in the GUS toms ?''
 ssNo I've been bringing things in for good many years. and the GUS toms people know I'm not a thief Come in.'' he added, answering a tap at the door.
 The door opened and vantine's man came in.
 A gentleman to see you, sir,'' he said and handed vantine card
 yantine looked at 1t little blankly.
 ~I don't know him. he said What does he want ?''
 He wants to see you, sir-very bad I should say l think he's French man, sir. Anyway, he don't know much English. Shall I show him out. sir?"
 @No,'' said Vant1ne, after an instant's hesitation. Tell him to wait
 TT tell you. Lester'' he went on as Parks withdrew. when I went down stairs this morning and saw that cab inet could hardly believe my eyes. thought knew furniture. but I hadn't any idea such cabinet existed. The most beautiful I had ever seen is at the Louvre. It stands in the Salie Louis XIV, to the left as you enter. It. belonged to Louis himself- Of course I can't be certain without careful examination, but I believe that cabinet. beautiful as it is. is merely the counterpart Of this one.''
 He paused and looked at me, his eyes bright with the enthusiasm of the conhoisseur
 "BouIe furniture he continued, '.is usually of ebony inlafd with tortoise shell and incrusted with ara besques in metals of various kinds The incrus- tation had to be very exact. and to get it so the artist clamped together two plates of equal size and thickness. one Of metal. the other Of tortoise shell, traced his design on the top one and then cut them both out together The result was two com bina lions. the orig inaI. with a tortoise shell ground and metal applications. and the counter part. applique metal with tortoise shell arabesqnes The original was really the one which the artist designed and whose effects he studied The coun- terpart was merely resultant acci- dent with which he was not especially concerned. Understand 2.
 ttYes. I think so.'' I said.
 well. it's the original which has the real artistic value. Of course the coun-
 
 much lower degree
 q can understand that said
 And now. Lester" Vantine went on, his eyes shining more and more. if my supposition is correct if the Grand Louis was content with the counter part of this cabinet for the long gal lery at Versailles who do you suppose owned the original?r I saw what he was driving at
 q believe it belonged to Mme- de Montespan,'' he said
 Really. vantine.' I exclaimed "I didn't know you were so romantic. You quite take my breath awayl'' He flushed little at the words. and saw how deeply in earnest he was. The craze of the collector takes him long way sometimes" he said. What I want you to do is to cable my shippers. Armand & Son. Rue du Tenn pie find out who owns this ca binet and buy it for me. = Perhaps the owner won't sell.'
 ''Oh. yes. he will. Anything can be bought-for a price, V
 You aniyou're going to have this rabinet. whatever the cost ?' q mean just that
 At least you'H tell me where to be- gin - l said T don't know anything of the value of such things
 We'll" said yantine. suppose you begin at 10000 francs. We mustu't t seem too eager. It's because I'm so eager that I want you to carry it | through for me I can't trust myself"
 And the other end ?' There isn't any other end Of course, strictly speaking, there is. be- cause my money isn't unlimited, but don't believe you will have to go over 100000 francs
 I gasped
 You mean you're wiling to give S10O.0OO for this cabinet2
 vantine nodded
 Maybe q little more If the owner won't accept that you must let me 1 know before you break off negotia- | tions. But come and see it.'' lie ied the way out of the room and down the stairs. but when we reached l the lower hall he paused
 Perhaps I'd better see my visitor 1 drst.' he s;iidI You'll find a new pie ] ture or two over there in the music room I'll be with you in a minute. 1 I started on. and he turned through 2 doorway at the left
 An instant later he;rd sharp ex- cla nation. then his voice calling me
 Lester come herev' he cried l I ran back along the hall into the room which he had entered He was l standing just inside the door.