CHAPTER XII

Coins--Origin of My Feeling for Them--Humble Commencement-- Groping in the Dark--My Scanty Means and Equally Scanty Knowledge, but Immense Enthusiasm and Inflexibility of Purpose--The Maiden Acquisition Sold for Sixteenpence--The Two Earliest Pieces of the New Departure--To whom I first went--Continuity of Purchases in All Classes--Visit to Italy (1883)--My Eyes gradually opened--Count Papadopoli and Other Numismatic Authorities--My Sketch of the Coins of Venice published (1884)--Casual Additions to the Collection and Curious Adventures--Singular Illusions of the Inexperienced--Anecdotes of a Relative--Two Wild Money-Changers Tamed--Captain Hudson--The Auction-Thief--A Small Joke to be pardoned, 235