Andrew opened the door for a heavily laden Jeffrey and Katya, then led them through his shop to the back office area. “This the lot?”
“Nineteen books on the crucial subjects,” Jeffrey said, setting down his load next to the oversized art books he had brought by the week before. “Katya’s box has some prints and imitation artifacts.”
“To add a bit of atmosphere,” Katya said.
Andrew gave her a look of mock injury. “Atmosphere? And what does my little world have now?”
“A beautiful feel,” Katya replied. “Truly.”
“You know the way to a man’s heart,” Andrew said. “Pity about the choice you’ve made. Choice of men, that is.”
“I think I did rather well,” Katya replied smugly.
Jeffrey was too frantic to share in their banter. “You understand these books are on loan?”
“Not part of the fee, I take it.”
“Not on your life. A couple I had to borrow, several I haven’t been able to read yet myself. And some of these have been out of print for over a century.”
“All right, lad,” Andrew replied easily. “Speaking of fee, we haven’t gotten around to discussing that.”
“Alexander said to tell you that he is doubly in your debt,” Katya said. “First for trying to assist us, and second for doing so confidentially.”
Andrew thought it over. “Coming from the old gent, I’d say that’s not bad, not bad at all.”
“You can add my gratitude to his,” Jeffrey said. “For what it’s worth.”
“Ah, well, seeing as how I disagree with the run-of-the-mill lot and their comments, I’d treat that almost as highly as the other. Maybe even a notch above, seeing as how you’re the up and comer.”
“Thanks, Andrew. I won’t forget this.”
“ ’Course you won’t. I’m not aiming on letting you, now, am I?” Andrew reached into an overstuffed drawer, came up with a set of clippings, passed them around. “Here’s the copy and bills for the first set of ads. Cost you a packet, especially the daily rags. The Times wanted eight hundred quid per day.”
“We’ve got to move ahead as though there were big money behind it.”
“Right you are, then. Here, have a gander at how the lucre’s being spent.”
The ad was a standard four-by-eight inches, framed in double black lines. The text took up less than half the space and simply read: “Major international collector seeks to acquire pre-seventeenth-century religious art and artifacts of the first order. Sellers of second-quality items need not apply. Paintings, manuscripts, altars, reliquaries, ornamental works, and other items will be considered. Utmost discretion and confidentiality guaranteed. Payment may be effected worldwide. Interested parties should contact,” and below was given Andrew’s name and shop address.
“Perfect,” Jeffrey declared. “Can I keep this one?”
“ ’Course you may, lad. You paid for it.”
“I’m leaving on a buying trip next week. I don’t suppose—”
“You’ll be hearing from me the instant I pick up the first bit of news, lad. The very instant, don’t you worry. As to timing, that’s out of our hands, now, isn’t it.”
Jeffrey nodded glumly. “Alexander’s really taking this hard.”
“Only on account of the weight you two put on reputations and the like.” He caught the look in Jeffrey’s eye and added, “Just kidding, lad. Of course he is.”
“You don’t speak any other languages, I guess.”
“No, but I understand Yank fairly well. And Sydney Greenfield works in Kentish, which I can get around in.”
“I don’t think it’s Greenfield.”
“You’ve said that half a dozen times already. And I’ve told you I agree with the lady here—we’ve got to look everywhere. All the same, I do believe you’re right. This doesn’t look like something our man would be up to. Did I ever tell you he was decorated in the Korean War?”
“Sydney Greenfield?”
“Goes against the grain, doesn’t it. But there you are. Ruddy great gong it was, too. Pinned on his chest by the head honcho himself. Said it was for bravery and valor beyond the call of duty, or some such.”
“Are you sure we’re talking about the same guy?”
“Hard to believe, I admit. Had a rough time getting the man to speak of it at all. I heard rumors about it for years and finally cornered him at the local. Wouldn’t let him go until I had the scoop.”
“What did he say?”
“Told me he didn’t remember what he’d actually done,” Andrew replied. “Scared blind, he was. Honest. One minute he was there on the sand, the next he was two miles inland, sitting by a bombed-out farmhouse having a quiet smoke with the boys. Still, they gave him the VC when it was all over. Told me he stood there and let them pin it on his chest, didn’t have a clue what all the fuss was about. That’s the way to go to war, I told him. Just skip over the nasty bits.”
“I’ve always liked Sydney,” Katya said. “Did Jeffrey tell you he was completely honest about his dealings in the repaired furniture?”
“Yes he did. Glad to hear it too, I was.” He clapped Jeffrey on the back. “Don’t look so glum, lad. From the sounds of it, nobody’s actually said Alexander stole the piece, am I right?”
“The implication is enough.”
Andrew nodded. “Yes, and that’s why I’d take your word of a debt over a lot of other people’s checks. You’re a strange one for this trade, though, you and your boss both.”
“Thanks, Andrew.” Jeffrey tightened his scarf. “Now, remember, the most important thing at this point is to retrieve the chalice.”
“Or reliquary,” Katya corrected.
“Or whatever it is, right. But we’d be interested in looking at anything of really top quality that comes in, especially if its origin is central European.”
“For this cause your boss has gotten himself involved in?”
“If the chalice is recovered,” Katya explained, “we’ll have substantial funds available both from the gala itself and promised by new patrons specifically for expanding the Polish religious heritage collection.”
“If it’s not,” Jeffrey added, “then paying for such pieces out of the firm’s pocket should buy us some breathing space. And time.”
“Hopefully we’ll be hearing from the thieves or their fences before long,” Andrew said. “As to this other matter, in such a case as I come up with a few class articles, I imagine I’d be splitting the commissions with you.”
Jeffrey shook his head. “They’d all be yours.”
“That’s a good sight more than fair.” Andrew ushered them back to the front. “Any time you feel a touch of the nerves setting in, feel free to give me a call. But best you not be seen around here for a time, in case they’re having the premises watched. And don’t you worry, lad. You’ll be hearing from me the instant I catch wind of anything.”