The Cost of a Duke.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue II, 12 January 1901, Page 60

The Cost of a Duke.

“1 have lately come across a little story of the Duchess of Montrose, whose beauty is no less renowned than her philanthropy (says “M.A.P."). The scene was a bazaar, where the duchess was selling photographs. One old Scotch ‘buddy’ of the more frugal sex, was very anxious to secure a photograph of the duchess, but the price asked was five shillings. The old woman hesitated. She wanted the photograph, but she could not well afford so much. "You can have my husband." said the duchess, with an amused glance at the duke, standing near, ‘foi two-nnd-sixpence.’ The wonld-bc pur chaser looked at the duke and then at. his photograph contemptonsly. ‘Half-a-croon!’ she blurted out. ‘I wouldmc give a silver saxpenee for him. But.’ she added, insinuatingly, ‘l'm right willing toe give hnlf-a-eroon for your Lonnie sei’.' The duchess was unable to resist this, and herself added the other half-crown to the bazaar coffers, or. as another version of the story goes, the despised duke proffered the balance.