Books › The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925 › scan 56
Scan 56
The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 32. See the scan on archive.org.
1The Fiddle Dealer
3"Hallo," he cried, "you have been upstairs seeing Nicholas. Well, is there anything up there that pleases you?" I said, Yes, I had seen a large 'cello with a Strad. ticket in it. "Is it a Strad.?" I asked. M. Vuillaume laughed. "Is it a Strad.?" quoth he, "farceur that you are to ask such a question. You! that's a little too much." "Well, then," I said, "we won't quarrel about its name. Is it yours and is it for sale?" "It is not mine," he replied, "and I don't know whether it's for sale or not, but I will go and see the owner and enquire. How much will you give for it?" I named my figure and away he went. In about two hours he returned saying that if I would add his commission, £20, to the price I had named the 'cello was mine. To this I agreed and told him to get it mounted and ready for me on my return journey, which would be in about three weeks' time.
5I brought it to London and shewed it to various dealers, one of whom eventually bought it. The first dealer to whom I mentioned it was somewhat distant in manner and complained much of the dull time; he was not even willing to take the trouble to come to my hotel and see it, but kindly suggested that I might bring it to him in a cab. This I firmly and respectfully declined to do. I called on another; he was not gushing either but said he would look me up some time during the evening.
7I did some other business before returning to
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.