Perhaps this very Bernard, the librarian, who
may have become interested in the art as a recreation, and done the
work in his idle hours."
"What a funny thing to do as a pastime!" exclaimed Theo.
"No stranger than that now many persons take up metal work,
wood-carving, or other of the so-called arts and crafts for
diversion."
"I suppose not," admitted Theo thoughtfully.
"It certainly is possible such a thing might have happened even so
long ago as the time when the Henri Deux ware was made. History offers
us no aid in solving the puzzle, so we can only find an answer as best
we may. The ware, however, is unique, and there is no mistaking it.
Some of it bears the monogram of King Henry II, and that accounts for
the name by which the product passes. There are authorities that
assert the H does not stand for the king's name, but for Helene,
mistress of the Chateau d'Orion; others declare the king's monogram
was used merely to fix the date when the pottery was made. Hence you
will find some china collectors calling it Henri Deux ware, and others
speaking of it as Faience d'Orion; while still others refer to it as
Saint Porchaire. When examining it it is interesting to notice how
much finer the later pieces are than the earlier ones.
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