I. THE SPRINGS OF WANDEL 27

Spanish peninsula. The quality of the Macharnudo vintage essentially fixed the standard of Xeres “sack,” or “dry” -secco-sherris, or sherry, from the days of Henry the Fifth¹ to our own;-the unalterable and unrivalled chalk-marl of it putting a strength into the grape which age can only enrich and darken,-never impair.

26. Mr. Peter Domecq was, I believe, Spanish born; and partly French, partly English bred; a man of strictest honour, and kindly disposition; how descended, I do not know; how he became possessor of his vineyard, I do not know; what position he held, when young, in the firm of Gordon, Murphy, and Company, I do not know; but in their house he watched their head clerk, my father, during his nine years of duty, and when the house broke up, asked him to be his own agent in England. My father saw that he could fully trust Mr. Domecq’s honour, and feeling;- but not so fully either his sense, or his industry; and insisted, though taking only his agent’s commission, on being both nominally, and practically, the head-partner of the firm.

27. Mr. Domecq lived chiefly in Paris; rarely visiting his Spanish estate, but having perfect knowledge of the proper processes of its cultivation, and authority over its labourers almost like a chief’s over his clan. He kept the wines at the highest possible standard; and allowed my father to manage all matters concerning their sale, as he thought best. The second partner, Mr. Henry Telford, brought into the business what capital was necessary for its London branch. The premises in Billiter Street belonged to him; and he had a pleasant country house at Widmore, near Bromley; a quite far-away Kentish village in those days.

He was a perfect type of an English country gentleman of moderate fortune; unmarried, living with three unmarried sisters,-who, in the refinement of their highly educated,

¹ [See Falstaff on the virtue of “sherris-sack”: 2 Henry IV., Act iv. sc. 3.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]