A Curious Transaction.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4401, 10 February 1883, Page 1

A Curious Transaction.

Mr Mortimer, the well known picture dealer, received a visit one day from an elderly American gentleman who gave the name of Hargreaves, of .New York. He. explained that he was staying at the Langham, and had been recommended by a friend to consult Mr Mortimer about a rather delicate matter. Mr Mortimer bowed gravely, and glanced at his visitor with a certain amount of "suspicion. He had so good a business and so large a connection that he could afford to treat a stranger in rather an off-band manner. Mr Hargreaves seemed nettled at this, and said sharply:— - " You are a picture-dealer, eh P. Your business is to buy and sell pictures on commission I guess ?'.' ■ " "Yes sir; certainly, certainly," returned 1 Mr Mortimer, unbending a little as be noted his visitor's eminently respectable appearance. ■"'.■• "Well, now, look here; I'll tell you what I want you to do for me," said Mr Hargreaves, seating himself. "I know something about pictures myself, seeP I'm making a collection of 'em, and I've been a tour on the Continent, with my eyes open. I guess I'm pretty flood at bargaining, and I've secured some firstclass specimens; but when it comes to doing a deal with a friend, I think it is always wiser to employ an agent." "You are quite right, sir, perfectly right," said Mr Mortimer scenting a genuine piece of business. 11 Well, I dined a few nights ago with a friend in Manchester," continued Mr Hargreaves; "a Mr Lintoll, a merchant." ■ " With a gallery," suggested Mr Mortimer. . "No; he is in the dry goods line," said Mr Hargreaves, in a matter-of-fact tone. "He ia a correspondent of my business house; that is how I came to know him. But there is, a picture in his dining room I mean to boy." "Yes sir," said Mr Mortimer. " Unfortunately the gentleman won't sell. I mentioned the matter to him? but I guess lat it too abruptly. He says the picture was an heiiloom, and became indignant when I pressed-him to name a price. I didn't like to mention the subject again, but I mean to have that picture." " What is the picture?" inquired Mr Mortimer. "I've my own notion what is, and I guess it's a pretty correct one," replied Mr Hargreaves, mysteriously. " But we needn't talk about it. I don't want to praise the picture to you, sir—l'm a buyer, not a seller. You can't make any mistake, because it's the only picture he has that is worth a cent, and it hangs over the fire-place, in the dining-room. Now, do you think you can get it for me P " " I will undertake to say it is only a question of price, sir," said Mr Mortimer, with a superior smile. :" I think it is more a question of British pride and sentiment, returned Mr Hargreavesi "However, you may see what you can do. I will give you a limit of five thousand pounds, and leave you to do your best." ;' , " Here is my card." added the old gentleman, laying it on the table. " I have written Mr Lintoll's same and address on the back. I shall remain at the Langham for a month or so; at least I shall make it my head quarters, for I guess I shall travel about a bit. A letter, addressed there will always find me, andif you want to wire, the proprietors will be able to tell you where I may happen to be; if I'm not in town. ■ Good morning." " Good day, sir, thank you. Your wishes shall be attended to," said Mr Mortimer, opening the door and bowing his visitor out. The picture dealer felt no doubt of being able to get it a bargain, and he would then make a handsome profit by Belling it to.Mr Hargreaves at the price he had offered. He abandoned this idea, however, somewhat reluctantly, owing to the dictates of prudence gained from long experience. Besides, he had his reputation to consider, and, on the whole, he deoided to be satisfied with his legitimate commission on the transaction. . Mr Mortimer wrote a letter of instroctions to his agent in Manchester, and in

] the course of a.day* or two he received a reply, which waS far from encouraging, The agent had seen the owner of the picture, but had failed altogether in his ■ mission. Mr Lintoll appeared to be an eccentric, choleric old gentleman, 1 with whom it seemed impossible to come to terms, since, as Mr Hargreaves had anticipated, he resolutely refused to part with the picture at any price. He bad definitely refused the offer of five thousand pounds for it, and threatened to kick the agent out of the house if he dared to, insult him by making further propositions^ Nevertheless, Mr Mortimer thought he iiw a glimmer of hope in -this'gloomy report ; for the agent incidentally mentioned thai he heard the old gentleman's friends were.stroogly advising him to accept the bid.' It appeared that, though Mr Lintoll.profe«sed4o..fael highjyj^djgnant > jat being asked to Bell the picture,' he couTd not refrain from boasting of the offer he had received. Evidently,<therefore, he was not deeply offended, and it was possible that be might ■ yield!to the advice of his friends, and take advantage of Mr Hargreaves' liberality. Mr Mortimer, consequently felt justi- , fied in writing to his customer that nego* , tiatiomhwere in progress which he hoped would; soon be brought to a successful issue. He instructed his agent not to lose sight of Mr Lintoll and his picture, and to repeat the offer discreetly, after a short interval. The next communication he received, however, contained the startling news that Mr Lintoll had suddenly disappeared. There was no doubt, the agent wrote, that he bad been in embarassed circumstances for some time, for it had transpired that there was a bill of sale upon his furniture and effects. In this document, however, the picture did not appear to have been included, and, oddly enough, it was found to have vanished with its owner. Mr Mortimer naturally did not feel deeply affected by Mr Lin toll's misfortunes, nor trouble his head with useless speculations as to what had become of the picture. He was vexed at haring failed to execute what promised to be a profitable commission, though he could afford to bear bis disappointment with equanimity. He wrote another letter to Mr Hargreaves, to the Langham Hotel, explaining what had happened, and dismissed the matter from his mind. Mr Mortimer, was a little surprised that Mr Hargreaves took no notice of his communications, and partly with an eye to business, and partly from curiosity, he called at the Langham Hotel two days afterwards. He then learnt lhat Mr Hargreaves bad departed a week or two ago, without leaving any address or say ing that be intended to return. Pursuing his inquiries, Mr Mortimer ascertained , that Mr Hargreaves was quite a stranger io the hotel, that he had only stayed there two days, bringing no luggage except a small valise, and that he had taken his departure the day following bis interview with him. This information made the picture«dealer feel vaguely suspicious and uneasy, and he inwardly congratulated himself on the fact of Mr Lintoll's disappearance, which had possibly saved him from some awkward embarrassment. He soon found, however, that his selfcongratulations were somewhat premature, for, on returning to bis office, he was confronted by a stout, middle-aged Hebrew gentleman, gorgeously apparelled, who, after inquiring, with great politeness if he were Mr Mortimer, handed him a note in the handwriting of his agent at Manchester. The picture-dealer opened it with misgivings, which were not relieved when he read that his visitor was a Mr Samuels, who had Mr Lintoll'a picture in his possession, and was prepared to sell it. '! Oh Irjndeed," remarked Mr Mortimer, eyeing his visitor, coldly. •• May I inquire how you obtained possession of the picture." " I advanced a large sum of money on it, Mishter Mortimer," returned Mr Samuels, readily. " Nothing would induce Mr Lintoll to sell, because it was an heirloom ; but he lodged it with me as a security for a temporary loan, and now I hear he has bolted, leaving it on my hands." " How much did you advance upon it P" demanded Mr Mortimer, foreseeing trouble in store. " Two thousand pounds, as sure as I'm standing here," said Mr Samuels. "Of course, Mr Mortimer, it was quite an. exceptional thing. £ shouldn't have thought of advancing the money, only he told me !wbat you had offered for the picture. The mention of your highly respectable and respected name, sir, satisfied me that the.. offer was genuine ; and, besides, I ? asked your, agent." "" Then you come here to sell, of course," said Mr ,Mortimer.. " What authority have you to dispose of the picture p " "I. took care of that, sir," said Mr Samuels, producing a paper from bis pocket, with a knowing wink. " I kn'>w what gentlemen''are, and although Mr Lintoll made a great fuss about parting with the picture, and declared he would - redeem it in a few days, I got him to sign this." '?■•■'■■■ The picture-dealer read the document which the other handed to him, and found it to be a. concise agreement signed by Mr Lintoll, setting forth that unless the sum of two thousand pounds and interest were re-paid within fourteen days, the lender was to be entitled to realise his security. Mr Mortimer started when he came to the " signature, for at a glance he perceived that the writing was identical with the inscription on- the back of the card Mr' Hargreaveß had given to him. "What was Mr Lintoll likeP" he inquired, with a queer smile, "Was he tall, elderly, with white whiskers extending under his chin and a slight cast in . one of his eyesP" " : . r '•"That'shim, Mr Mortimer;'you des-; oribe him exactly;" said Mr Samuels. "He didn't tell me he had ever seen . you."'' :-' - ■■"■ ' ; ■-': ' ' "The fact is,"*returned the picturedealer, changing colour and looking rather foolish, "I was unaware until this moment that I had the honor of his ' acquaintance. You see he misled me by saying his name was Hargreaves, and pretending to be an American." "What! Oh, my Lord! Mr Mortimer! You do not mean to say I've been shwindled! " cried Mr Samuels with an s appearance of dismay. "Do you suspect it was a plant P Am I to understand it was a myth?" .'• I'm sure of it; and I Btrongly suspect v you are in the swim, Mr Samuels," said Mr Mortimer desperately.., . . "Mr Mortimer, such language is an insult, sir I" exclaimed "Mr - - Samuels, .bouncing from his seat aod turning very v - read. - "I'm as innocent as a babe unborn." -. "I'll lay a wager you didn't advance ■ two thousand pounds on the picture ; nor half nor a quarter that amount," havarded 3klr Mortimer, eyeing him keenly,

" I did, s'help me Moses, and all because your agent distinctly" informed me that you had a bona fide customer for the picture, Mr Mortimer," said Mr Samuels, eagerly. ■ " Come, come.-Mr Samuels-; it's no use trying to deceive me," said Mr Mortimer, knowingly. ' " I see clearly enough what your game is. Lintoll, either of his own accord or; the suggestion of somebody else, comes here as a stranger, and makes a bjd for his own, picture. It's an old dodge,- and I ought to'have been'up to it. His.idea,, no doubt, was to induqe one of his friends to buy it, but, failing in this, he goes ; to; you., Of, course, you don't believe him."

V -"Really; Mr Mortimer," interrupted :Mr Samuels, indignantly. .-<■ VTut-!-tut 1 you weren't born yesterday, Mr Samuels, nor yet the day before," said Mr. Mortimer, • good-hnmonredly • " neither was I, for that matter. Didn't you think it odd that Lintoll, requiring money, should have borrowed a few pounds of you on security of the picture, instead of. selling it? Pooh ! My dear sir ! you knew your man. You advanced him a trifle .to get possession of the pic~ ? ture, and of that agreement, thinking to* frighten me. That cock wont't fight, Mr Samuels "

The picture-dealer's good humor, appeared to be infectious, for Mr Samuels abandoned his blustering tone and man* ncr, and indignant expression relaxed into a humorous smile, as he said:

" You get up very early in the morning, Mr Mortimer—any one can see that with half an eye. You must own, however, that you are in an awkward position. Supposing I were to bring an action against you. I might recover damages. I've got a letter from your agent saying that you were seeking to buy the picture. It wonld look odd if you were to swear in the witness-box that your customer was a sham. Any way, you would get well laughed at for having been taken in by so transparent a fraud, and a jury might refuse to believe that a gentleman of your experience in the trade could be so gammoned."

" I shouldn't mind that," said Mr Mor timer, wincing, nevertheless.

" Look here, Mr Mortimer. " I've got an idea,' said Mr Samuels, after a pause, lowering bis voice, and drawing his chair closer. " Can't we come to some amicable arrangement that will be to our mutual ad* vantage ? I think there is money to be made over that picture. It is known ail over Manchester that you offered three thou. for it, and the general belief ie that Lintoll sold it, and bolted with the proceeds. Very well ! Why not <j"

" I don't .understand," said Mr Mortimer, shortly. " Why ! don't you see ?' f exclaimed Mr Samuels, leaning back in his cbair, and regarding bis companion with a very cunning expression. " Benjamin Samuels, Esq., was the gent who employed you to negotiate for the purchase of the picture, and gave three thousand pounds for it!" " Hum ! You want to give out that you purchased the picture through me," said Mr Mortimer slowly. " You think in that case people would suppose the picture was genuine P" " Tt is pretty well known that Benjamin Samuels isn't the man to give three them, for an article that isn't worth the money," said Mr Samuels, with a wink, " and your highly respectable name being mixed up in the affair will be a guarantee that it was a genuine transaction."

■" I suppose you expect to find a purchaser for the picture at the price you are supposed to have given for it, Mr Samuels." said Mr Mortimer, with a grin. "In fact, I shouldn't be surprised if you persuaded someone to give another thousand or so."

"I hope so, with your kind assistance, sir," returned Mr Samuels, modestly. ."All you've got to do Mr Mortimer, is to keep your mouth shut, and instruct your agent to do ihe same, and leave the rest tome. I'm prepared to act liberally in the matter, sir. Come, Mr Mortimer, how much shall we say P" he added, insinuatingly producing a bulky chequebook as he,spoke.

"Well, really, your suggestion is an extraordinary one,' observed Mr Mortimer, thoughtfully. " I don't see any harm in J it, Jd6 you—if •we are both discreet? The figure ? Well-abem !— suppose we say five hundred down, and the.balance when the picture is disposed of. Half profits, of course; and will you take a glass of sherry, Mr Samuels ? "— Truth. :>-..' ■, , \ ■„-,.;,■ •.. .