Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-02-26

ouTCOIl &. 0C6VSIlSOH
If | did, I'd go buy it. That's what |
cabinet-the most exquisite l ever saw.
1t came from Paris. and it was ad-
dressed to me. The only explanation
l "a think Of is that my shippers at
Paris made Il mistake, sent me a cabi-
net belonging to some one else and
sent mine to the other person."
You had bought one. them"
Yes. and it hasn't turned up. But
beside this II it's Il mere daub. My
man Parks got it through the customs
Yesterday. AS there was a Boule
cabinet on my manifest. the mistake
wasn't discovered until the whole lot
was brought up here and uncrated
this morning."
Weren't they uncrated in the Gus
toms?"
No. I've been bringing things in
for Il good many years. and the GUS
toms people know I'm not a thief.
Come ill.," 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 a card.
Vantine looked ut it a little blankly.
Il don't know him." he said. What
does he want?"
"He wants to see you. sir-very bad.
l should say. 1 think he's a French
man, sir. Anyway, he don't know
much English. Shall 1 show him out.
sir:'
NO" said Vantine, after an instant's
hesitation. Tell him to wait"
II tell you. Lester" he went on as
Parks withdrew. when | went down
stairs this morning and saw that cab
met l could hardly believe my eyes. l
thought knew furniture. but l hadn't
any idea such a cabinet existed. The
most beautiful | had ever seen is at
the Louvre. 1t stands in the Sale
Louis XIV, to the left as you enter.
1t belonged to Louis himself. Of
course can't be certain without a
careful examination. but l 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
connOiSSeur
"Boule furniture" he continued, lis
usually Of ebony inlaid with tortoise
shell and incrusted with arabesques in
metals of various kinds. The incrus-
tation had to be very exact. and to
get 1t 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 combinations. the orig
inal. with a tortoise shell ground and
metal applications. and the counter
part. applique metal with tortoise shell
arabesqnes. The original was really
the n which the artist designed and
whose effects he studied. The coun-
terpnrt was merely a resultant acct
dent, with which he was not especially
concerned. Understands"
YES. | think So" | said.
"Well, it's the original which has the
real artistic value. OF course the coun-
terpart is often beautiful. too. but in a
much lower degree"
II 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 D
owned the originate"
I saw what he was driving at.
II believe it belonged to Nine. de
| Montespan," he said.
Really, Vantine." exclaimed, II
didn't know you were so romantic.
You quite take my breath away"
He flushed a little Mt the words. and
I saw how deeply in earnest he was.
1.-The craze of the collector takes him
a long way sometimes" he said.
What want you to do is to cable my
shippers. Armand & Son. Rue du Tenn
pie. find out who owns this cabinet
and buy it for me-"
Perhaps the owner won't SELL"
"Oh, yes. he will! Anything can be
~bought-for a price"
you mean you're going to have this
cabinet. whatever the coSt?"
II mean just that"
"At least you'll tell me where to be-
gin," I said. ~ don't know anything
Of the value Of such things"
"Well." said Vantine. suppose you