Buried Treasure

A Mr Mulliner short story

Lord Bromborough's daughter, Muriel, gets him to commission Brancepeth Mulliner (the man she loves) to paint his portrait. She also tells Brancepeth about her father's large moustache which he is growing competitively against that of Sir Preston Potter.

Arriving at Rumpling Hall, Norfolk, Brancepeth mistakes Sir Preston for his host Lord B. He is further surprised to find Muriel engaged to Edwin Potter. She tells him she'd happily switch if he had a bit more money. Brancepeth needs a humorous cartoon character as that's where the money is. Then the butler describes Lord B without his moustache.

Characters

Mr Mulliner	the narrator
Brancepeth Mulliner	an artist, in love with
Muriel	daughter of
Lord Bromborough	a moustache grower
Sir Preston Potter	a rival moustache grower
Edwin Potter	his son
George Phipps	Lord B's butler

Publishing Information

Lord Emsworth and Others

First published September 1936 in the Strand magazine and on 27 September 1936 in This Week (US) (in the latter as Hidden Treasure).

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Notes and Quotes

Joyeuse
- one of Charlemagne's two named swords, the other being the Flamberge mentioned a few lines later. A Flamberge is also a type of rapier with a waved blade.

Doolin of Mayence
- (also known as Doon) a historical figure of French romance whose sword was indeed Merveileuse.

Love-in-Idleness
- a small flower, the antecedent of the modern pansy; it still grows in the wild.

'... opening words of Longfellow's Evangeline, "This is the forest primeval." '
- subtitled A Tale of Arcadie the first four lines are:

This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight,
Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic,
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms.

Zareba
- a hedged or palisaded enclosure for the protection of a camp, or a restricting or confining influence.

Mangold-wurzel
- an alternative spelling for mangel-wurzel, a large kind of beet used as cattle food.

Clark Gable
- (1901-60) top US film actor and heart-throb of the time.

Diego Velazquez
- (1599-1660) Spanish painter, one of the very best.

'For years I have followed the gleam.'
- like Merlin in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Merlin and the Gleam.

'Leaving not a wrack behind.'
- Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1.

Leave not a rack behind

'In due season ... Also apes, ivory and peacocks.'
- 1 Kings: Chapter 10, Verse 22.

For the king had at sea a navy of Tharsnish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharsnish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

'... like Macbeth interviewing Lady Macbeth after one of her visits to the spare room.'
- in Shakespeare's play, Lady M. was rather active in the violent reduction in the number their guests.

Kedgeree
- a dish of fish, rice and eggs.

'[he] had left his butt.'
- he had left his shooting position.

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The US version retains the English spelling of moustache, i.e. not mustache.

'I've told Father you're the coming man.'
'So I am,' said Brancepath. 'I'm coming this afternoon.'