The Argosy — page 331: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

310 Bidding by Proxy. approval ; a vacant space on the dining room wall was agreed upon as a fitting place of honour for the coming masterpiece; and its installation thereon regarded as a foregone conclusion. Slips, however, between the cup and the lip will sometimes occur, and the next morning’s post brought with it a summons which materially affected Master Septimus’s plans. It was from an old friend, on the point of embarking the same evening from Ports- mouth, who desired to consult him on certain business matters before leaving England. ‘There’s no help for it,” said Mr. Palecourt, after reading the letter aloud for his wife’s benefit. “I must go; so there’s an end of it. If he could only have waited until to-morrow.” ‘Very provoking,” chimed in Sophy. “We must hope for better luck another time.” “Not likely,” doubtfully replied her liege lord. ‘‘Cuyps don’t turn up every day. However, I may as well start at once; and don’t wait dinner for me, for I may not be back till late.” Stopping at the nearest stationer’s for a ‘‘ Bradshaw” on his way to Victoria, and hastily consulting that instructive manual, Mr. Pale- court suddenly discovered to his inexpressible delight that he had half an hour to spare before the departure of the train. ‘By Jove,” he muttered, “I never thought of that! I have plenty of time to leave a commission with the auctioneer, and that will do quite as well as if I were there myself.” A word to “ cabby,” accompanied by a suggestive hint of possible largesse, soon brought him to his destination ; and he was at once ushered into the auctioneer’s private room, where he briefly explained to that functionary the object of his visit. ‘“‘T understand,” said the latter. ‘‘ Number eighty-six in the cata- logue: a landscape with cattle and figures, attributed to Cuyp. Certainly ; my clerk shall bid for you, Mr. ——” **Palecourt, 134, Thurloe Square.” ‘Very good. How far do you intend to go?” “Why,” said Septimus, who had not considered that point, “I should think fifty pounds would be ample.” ‘“ Better leave a margin, and say a hundred. You wouldn’t like to miss it, of course ?” “Well, no, but a hundred is rather a fancy price. However, you may put it down at that, though it isn’t likely to fetch half as much.” “‘T should be very much surprised if it did,” said the auctioneer, and the interview closed; Mr. Palecourt regaining his Hansom, and succeeding in catching the train for Portsmouth exactly two minutes before it steamed out of the station. Meanwhile, his wife was relating to her brother who, living close by, generally dropped in for a chat in the course of the morning, the mischance that had prevented Septimus from attending the sale. Mr. Ferguson, a practical man of commercial rather than artistic CONNIELIOOKS.E@) m