Barry Pain

Name: City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter
Author: Barry Pain

City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (1901)

Summary

“City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter”, published in 1901, is a work by Barry Pain. It explores elements such as Jewit, dealers and picture.

Quotes from City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (Barry Pain)

Barry Pain, City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (1901)

“ How can the collector object to a long price when he can read for himself in the papers what you had to pay for the same thing at Christie's.
Yes, in spite of trade rivalries, a dealer should be on friendly terms with other dealers. If Mr. Samuel Levison and Mr. Algernon Franks had not been picture-dealers, they would have quarrelled, for each had taken an advantage of the other that the other considered to be unfair; as it was, they went into partnership. In business they were strictly honest—by which I mean that they did nothing illegal and nothing generous. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (1901)

“ Jewit was quite impecunious, quite straight, and hopelessly alcoholic. Suddenly an idea occurred to Mr. Franks, and he gave up all notion of going down to Salden. He could manage it with much less trouble to himself.
On the following evening, after Levison had left, Franks sent for a clerk who frequently attended sales for them. "Look here, Peters," he said. "I want you to run down to Salden to-morrow. There's a small sale there. You know Mr. Jewit by sight? That's all right. You're to keep an eye on him, but don't get talking with him. If he bids for any picture, follow him and beat him." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (1901)

“ Three thousand, or something near it, for a picture you've never seen, when you don't even know what it is. You ought to be locked up."
"A man who is a good judge thought very well of it," said Franks, as if in feeble self-defence. "And I had hoped to get it much cheaper. It may come all right one day. It may turn out very good. I should have consulted you, perhaps."
Mr. Levison was beside himself with rage. "You know very well what the terms of our partnership are; and you'll have to abide by them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (1901)

“ The much-desired and valuable picture comes up. An air of apathy seems to settle on the little group of dealers. Bidding is slow and soon ceases. The picture is knocked down to one of the dealers for a fifth of its value. And, after the sale, that little group of dealers adjourn to a neighbouring house of entertainment, where they can have a room to themselves, and a cup of tea if they require it. There they hold a private auction among themselves, and this time the picture fetches its real value. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (1901)

“ Levison read it, gave a contemptuous snort, signed it, and tossed it back to Franks.
"And let that be a lesson to you not to try monkeying about with me."
Suddenly Franks's eyes blazed. He rose and struck the table with his fist. "No," he said. "It is you who will have the lesson. Here is another coincidence about those telegrams. Both came from Salden—yours told you that Jewit had been outbid—mine told me that I had bought the picture for the firm at £2,600. Now I keep it for myself." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (1901)

“ He examined the other with cordial approval. "That's better," he said. "I can't say what it is—nobody very first class. But the man who painted it knew what he was doing; there's nothing weak about it." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Barry Pain, City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (1901)

“ He had quite determined by this time to buy the picture by himself for himself, to sell it again as soon as he had got the history of it—which he thought would not be very much trouble—and to do all this without the knowledge of his partner Franks.
Levison's conscience did not disturb him. Knowledge has a money value in business. The bibliophile who discovers a treasure in the "twopenny box" does not tell the vendor; he pays his twopence and takes his treasure home. Mr. Levison had discovered one of the many Lady Hamiltons that Romney painted; he was not bound to tell Powlet that ”

Barry Pain

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Quotes from City Chronicles — XII. The Biting of the Biter (Barry Pain)

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