Books › The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925 › scan 62
Scan 62
The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 38. See the scan on archive.org.
1The Fiddle Dealer
3He would also keep his father's violin, as he knew from reliable sources, that the prices of fine instruments were steadily rising and would, no doubt, continue to do so. He calculated that by the time he was ready to retire the selling price of his instrument would be quadrupled and with that and his income from his rentes he could live in comfort in his retirement. All this was duly carried out and though often pressed to sell the violin he steadily refused to do so until the right time came.
5This was now the case, and it was decided that the purchaser should be the son of a titled minister in the Government, who had latterly looked forward eagerly to the time when he should possess the violin. Unfortunately a difficulty arose about the enormous price asked, 30,000 francs (£1,200), which M. Baillot boldly demanded for it. This sum fairly took away the breath of the would-be purchaser, and nearly rendered him speechless. At last he said: "Surely you are joking I never heard of such a price for a violin." But M. Baillot answered that the fiddle was his father's and as such was far beyond all others in value, "besides," he added, "you have said in nearly every letter to me that price was no object." The intending purchaser explained that such a sum had never entered his thoughts and that he had merely used a phrase common enough in France about anything which a person longed to possess. M. Baillot, who was evidently
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