Books › Old violins, 1905 › scan 196
Scan 196
Old violins, 1905
12 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 176. See the scan on archive.org.
1hoping the shabby man did not know the value of his wares, offered him a small sum for the lot, which Tarisio refused, doubtless with those picturesque invocations of horror to the Virgin and all the Saints which seem necessary to the Italian who attempts to convey to a "screw" the mingled indignation and pity excited in his generous and artistic breast by a mean offer.
3Tarisio was certainly disappointed; but he forgot that he himself had to create the market; and so at last he left, with his empty bag indeed, but with his ragged pockets far from full.
5Back to Italy, back to his monasteries and cabarets, a little dazzled; but, with unabated energy, he recommenced his search.
7He was now beginning to be known far and wide as a clever repairer and a convenient dealer. As his stock of good, bad, and indifferent fiddles increased he could offer a greater selection, and readily parted with the worst ones, nicely done up, to his ignorant and confiding but not over-wealthy Italian patrons.
9When next he journeyed to Paris he met with a different reception. Vuillaume, Thibaut, and Chanot the elder opened their privileged doors to him, and especially Vuillaume had the acumen to see that in Tarisio he had lighted upon what gold-diggers call a veritable "pocket," and gave him higher and higher prices for the harvest of Amatis, Strads, Guarneri, and Bergonzis which now flowed steadily into Paris through this odd medium.
11Tarisio was far more than a connoisseur and dealer;
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