Polly and Her Friends Abroad Part 18

When Mrs. Fabian told her husband about the gift and Dodo's point of view about wealth, it had more influence with him than anyone could have thought for. He felt that Dodo and her father were really worth-while characters, but there was a roughness about them that needed some polishing before the purity and beauty of their souls would shine forth resplendently and make others appreciate them.

The streets of Paris were anything but good for motoring because of the broken cobbles, and deep ruts in the roads. The disagreeable odors, too, created by poor sanitation in the city, caused Polly and her chums to cover their noses many a time.

"I like the wonders of Paris, but I can't say that I like the people and the everyday annoyances," remarked Polly, one day.

"The shops are beautiful!" said Eleanor.

"And the signs-they are marvellous," added Dodo.

Mr. Fabian laughed at the individual tastes, and Mrs. Fabian said: "Well, we can't get away any too soon to please me."

"'Them's our sentiments, too,'" laughed Polly.

"I'll hate to leave the Bohemian Restaurants," sighed Nancy. "I always did like to sit under a tall palm and watch the people parade by, so near me that I could reach out a hand and catch hold of them."

"Now that all but Mr. Alex and I have had a say I'll add, that I like Paris because of the marvellous collections for artists to visit, and profit by," remarked Mr. Fabian.

"An' I like the gay town because no one bothers you. You can smoke a pipe, or do any durn thing without someone's kickin'," added little Mr.

Alexander.

His opinion drew a general laughter from the group.

From the first day of the arrival of Mr. Fabian and his party, little Mr. Alexander had daily exchanged messages with his wife, hoping in that way, to receive one that would convince Mr. Fabian that he must make use of the car for the tour of the Continent. But he could not read his wife's confused statements and feel that the right one had yet arrived for him to use in this need.

The day the girls started for the Louvre, Mr. Alexander and his car had been refused because, they said, they would be busy in the Galleries all day and could not ask him to sit outside waiting for their appearance.

So they left him sitting at a writing table in the hotel, and started for the Louvre. As they approached the grounds of the famous museum, they were thrilled with the magnificence of the place.

"It is considered the finest museum in the world, and contains rarest national collections of art and antiquity that date back as far as Philippe Auguste, in 1180," explained Mr. Fabian. "Philippe Auguste built a fortress here to protect the walls of his hunting-box where it touched the river. This old foundation can be seen by visitors on certain days, and I arranged so that we would come on one of the days."

So the girls followed their escort down to the cellars, where the old walls were seen. But they were not deeply interested in foundations with no claim to beauty or value for the world, so they soon returned to the Halls where the antiques were on exhibition.

To reach the Rotonde D' Apollon, Mr. Fabian led the girls past Galleries filled with paintings, sculptures, ivories and other art treasures. Then having seen these collections, they pa.s.sed through a seventh century iron gateway brought from the Chateau de Maisons, and entered the magnificent room which was sixty-one metres long and was built in the time of Henri IV. In this galerie, as in others following it, there were shown such placques, vases, dishes, and other objects of art, that the beholders were silent with admiration.

Beyond the Salle des Bronzes Antiques, where very fine examples of bronzes were to be seen, the girls visited five rooms containing 17th and early 18th century furniture. Here they also found several exquisite Gobelin and Mortlake tapestries.

That evening the hotel clerk handed Mr. Fabian a legal looking envelope, which, upon being opened, proved to contain the pa.s.ses necessary for visitors to enter and see the famous tapestries woven by the Gobelin Society.

"Ah! Now you girls will see something worth while," remarked Mr. Fabian, holding the slips of paper above his head. "I have here the 'open sesame' to the National Manufactory of the Gobelins which still is housed in the grounds of Louis the XVIth. There we may feast our eyes on some of the examples of weaving that has made this Society so famous."

"When will we go?" asked Polly, eagerly.

"Tomorrow, the pa.s.ses say."

Everyone expressed an eagerness to see these looms and the method of making the tapestries, so it was planned that the entire party should go, excepting Mr. Alexander who preferred a drive in his car after leaving his friends at their destination.

CHAPTER VIII-DODO MEETS ANOTHER "t.i.tLE"

The next day they visited the Gobelin Tapestries. There was but one word to express the wonderful work exhibited-and that was "Exquisite." Some of these tapestries are "worth a crown."

"It doesn't seem possible that anyone could weave such delicate lace-like patterns with mere threads and human hands," said Polly.

"And such colorings, too! Did you ever see such green velvety lichen as seems growing on those old grey monoliths?" added Eleanor.

"See the tiny dash of red that is necessary, given by the pigeon berry growing in that lichen," remarked Polly.

The others said nothing, because they were so impressed by the beauty of the complete picture that the details failed to reach them. Then Mr.

Fabian told the history of the Gobelins.

"In its foundation year there were two hundred and fifty weavers engaged in weaving these marvellous tapestries. But that number has dwindled, today, to sixty. And there used to be an annual appropriation of two hundred thousand francs that today has dwindled, also; to fifty thousand francs.

"The famous old Gobelins owned by the State, and exhibited at the Museums and at public buildings in Paris, are today worth fortunes. Few are owned by the Trade and such as are are the more modern pieces that date back to Napoleon III.

"Many pieces of rare Gobelins were sold because of royal vicissitudes previous to 1870, but since then no tapestries have been available to the public. This enhances the value of any Gobelin that was sold to a.s.sist the Treasury in 1852.

"One of the most famous series ever produced, known as 'Portieres of the G.o.ds,' consists of eight pieces, representing the four seasons and the four elements. Each design is personified by one of the G.o.ds or G.o.ddesses of Olympus. This series has been repeated until there are two hundred and thirty-seven sets that left the looms.

"When one of these portieres of the G.o.ds appear in a sale there is most lively bidding for it, and prices soar higher than any other Gobelin usually brings.

"The 'Don Quixote' series of five pieces, is perhaps the most famous of all Gobelins recently sold. To show the keen appreciation of such tapestry, the price paid at a sale of such was six hundred thousand francs."

As Mr. Fabian concluded, Polly laughingly remarked: "I wonder if Nolla and I will ever reach that degree in decorating where a customer will commission us to go and buy such a tapestry."

"Of course you will! As soon as I marry that t.i.tle that Ma is hunting up for me, I'll give you the order for the whole set," laughed Dodo.

"Let's hope we may have to wait forever, then, if the commission depends on your misery," retorted Eleanor.

After leaving the Gobelins, Mr. Fabian took his party to some of the old curio shops in Paris, where one can spend many interesting hours-if one likes antiques.

That evening Mr. Alexander insisted upon their going, as his guests, to one of the famous cafes. And as they sat at one of the way-side tables watching the stream of pleasure-seekers go past, Dodo suddenly drew the attention of her companions to a man who was strolling by.

"Now there's what I call a really handsome Frenchman," whispered she.

"Why, if it isn't Count Chalmys!" exclaimed Nancy, jumping up to catch hold of the gentleman's arm.

"What's that! Anuther t.i.tle?" asked Mr. Alexander with a frown.

"Yes, but don't worry, Pa," laughed Dodo, encouragingly. "If Ma's not about there's no danger for you and me."

The others laughed at Mr. Alexander's evident concern and Dodo's instant rejoinder to his question. Then Nancy brought the gentleman over to meet her friends. He shook hands with Mrs. Fabian and then turned to acknowledge the introductions.

"This is Miss Polly Brewster and Miss Eleanor Maynard whom I told you about, when they discovered the gold mine on the mountains in Colorado-you remember?"

"Ah, to be sure!" responded the Count.