Chapter 27 In Which I Take Charge
IN WHICH I TAKE CHARGE
Mr. Stark said, as soon as the door had shut behind the others, “I did say that it was a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, but really, you know, after the man’s come all the way down here?”
“I haven’t changed my mind about selling the necklace,” I said.
“What, then? Surely it’s more convenient to handle this here and now rather than having to take the train up to the City again on Monday.”
I said, “The time is different in New York, is it not? What time is it there now?”
Mr. Stark looked at his watch. “Three-thirty here; six-thirty in New York. Why?”
“And it was after two when you arrived.”
“I’m sorry,” Mr. Stark said, “but I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
“How do we know that this man is actually Mr. Penderleigh?”
“I beg your pardon? I called Christie’s, and they directed me to him.
‘Mr. Penderleigh is our expert on historic jewelry,’ they told me, and I’ve been corresponding with the man for over six weeks.
I’ve spoken to him on the phone three or four times, too.
I called him to set the appointment date for Monday, and it was Christie’s I called.
I realize you’ve been exposed to far more bad behavior than a young woman in the U.S.
would have encountered, but I think your imagination’s running away with you, don’t you? ”
“Perhaps,” I said. “A pity that it’s too late to call Christie’s on the telephone and confirm that Mr. Penderleigh is indeed here in California now, though. And to ask perhaps about his appearance.”
“Really, Marguerite.” Mr. Stark had lost some of his professional manner and was sounding annoyed now. “What possible reason—”
“Hear her out, Dad,” Joe said, as he had before. How I did love my husband!
I counted off on my fingers. “First, it seems most odd to me to change an appointment like this—concerning such a lucrative transaction, too—at the last minute, particularly to drive down and catch us unprepared, so the business would be conducted in a … in a rush, when one isn’t thinking in a systematic way.
Second, to arrive after the time when the New York office will be closed—on a Friday, too!
Third, he said, ‘in the hospital,’ not ‘in hospital,’ and ‘on vacation’ rather than ‘on holiday.’ Did you notice this? ”
“That’s true,” Joe said.
“He works in the States,” Mr. Stark said. “Of course he’s picked up some American phrases.”
“Fourth—” I held up my thumb and three fingers. “How did he count on his fingers?”
“Pardon?” Mr. Stark said blankly.
“Earlier. He counted thus: index finger, middle finger, ring finger. But Europeans and the British do not count this way. We begin with the thumb.”
Joe said, “You’re right. He did count like that. I haven’t spent enough time with the Brits to know, but—”
“English people could count differently than German people, surely,” Mr. Stark said.
“They could,” I said, “but my nanny and my governess counted as I did. One doesn’t do such a thing, ah, bewusst?”
“Consciously,” Joe said.
“Yes. One doesn’t do this consciously. One counts as one has always done, and doesn’t think twice.
And for an antiquities expert to be a lieutenant on a warship, even in Britain during wartime; this I find difficult to believe.
Even if it were so, what does a military officer know of drains?
And to be so handsome, so charming! Were you not expecting an older man?
Perhaps rather short and without hair, and dry in his manner?
Oh, by itself,” I went on, when Mr. Stark opened his mouth to object, “this would not signify. But taken altogether, I believe we must ask him to identify himself.”
“Or,” Joe said, “we could just wait until Monday at one. In Dad’s office. With identification.”
“Yes,” I said with relief. “Yes, this is better, and much less awkward. And also, please, Mr. Stark, will you call Christie’s on Monday morning and ask them? I can apologize, then, if I’ve been overly cautious.”
“I suppose we could just ask him for identification here and now,” Mr. Stark said.
“I can’t get past this: how would he even know about the necklace, and what time the appointment was for?
How would he have my telephone number, and know the history of the necklace?
He did refer to your parents, you know, and to Napoleon and Josephine, too, on the drive down. ”
“I don’t know,” I said slowly. “I can imagine a few ways, though. Such a jewel as the necklace will have been much discussed, I suppose? I will merely say that I feel uneasy. It’s a most valuable necklace, you know, worth any amount of trouble to steal.”
“But it’s insured, of course,” Mr. Stark said.
“No,” I admitted. “I’ve had it in the bank, and … and it would have cost a great deal to insure. I couldn’t have done so at all in Germany, for all such ventures were defunct. This is one reason I wanted to sell it; it was such a worry.”
Mr. Stark’s mouth didn’t fall open, but he certainly registered his shock. “That’s unfortunate.”
“Yes,” I said. “I agree. As I told you, I’m a determined sort of person, but there are many things I don’t yet know. You may say that I’ve been foolish, and you would be correct. I’m making a most stringent note to be more cautious in future.”
Joe said, “If there’s any chance at all that he’s not legit, I say we don’t invite him back up here at all, even to check his identification. Who’s to say what’s in that case of his?”
“You don’t think—” I said.
“As you say,” Joe said, “it’s a very valuable piece of jewelry. No, I think Dad and I go downstairs and say that you need the weekend to think about it. And then we call him a taxi to the train station.”
“Oh, yes,” I said. “And this way, we can still go to the launderette to wash the so smelly towels and clothing. I hope Fred left his things here too, Joe, for we really must wash them for him.”
“You hardly seem upset,” Mr. Stark said, “at the idea of a fraudster pulling a gun and stealing your priceless uninsured necklace.”
“But of course I’m not upset,” I said. “It hasn’t happened.”
“But that it could happen,” Mr. Stark insisted.
“Many bad things could happen,” I said, “but this is why one uses one’s talents to try to anticipate and prevent them.
If they happen all the same … na ja, this too is life.
Time enough to worry when they do. And before the launderette, Joe, we’ll ask your parents to take us in the car to the bank, and I will return the necklace to its box.
And we will of course lock the door tonight. ”
“Yep,” Joe said, looking rather grim. “You bet we will.”
“Perfectly prudent,” Mr. Stark said. “Just in case.”
“Yes,” I said. “Just in case. Thank you. You’ve been most helpful. My mind is greatly eased.” I smiled, too. Winningly, I hoped.
What ructions there were on Monday!
At ten-thirty, while Joe was in class, I had a call from Mr. Stark.
He said, “You can congratulate yourself on your instincts, Marguerite. Mr. Penderleigh did not arrive in California on Thursday. He arrived yesterday. There was no old lady in the hospital, and I suspect that the genuine article is nothing like the man we met. The police have already been here, and Christie’s is up in arms; this will do their reputation no good at all if it gets out.
They begged us not to say anything. I said, of course, that I couldn’t make any promises on your behalf. ”
“But who was this man?” I asked.
“Oh, the same old story. Mr. Penderleigh’s secretary’s fiancé. Who hasn’t come back from California. She’s convinced he’s dead.” This last was said very drily.
“And yet you said that he seemed not at all disconcerted on Friday, when you sent him off. This made me rather doubtful, and I’m sure you felt the same.”
“I did,” he admitted. “Of course, a con man is always charming. That’s his stock in trade.”
“I don’t know this term.”
“A con man. A con artist. A fraudster.”
“Ah. Ein Schwindler.”
“Yes. A swindler. The word is similar.”
“I’m very sorry for this secretary,” I said. “She has perhaps lost her employment?”
“I should hope so. Women and their judgment!”
“Or men,” I said, “and their deceptions!”
He said, “Well, you have me there. Both Mrs. Stark and I are shocked, and very glad you raised the alarm. I’d have said I was a pretty shrewd man, but I have to confess that he took me in completely.”
“Good looks without character,” I said, “are very dangerous.”
He chuckled. “They most certainly are. Well, well. I’ve decided to send a car for you and Joe. I wouldn’t put it past that fellow to be waiting for you at the train station with a gun in his pocket.”
“But this is very astute of you,” I said. “I never thought of that. And very kind, too.”
“Well, you are my daughter-in-law,” he said. “And I wouldn’t put it past Joe to throw himself in front of the gun out of some kind of romantic nobility.”
“Yes, Joe is very brave,” I said. “But I would much rather have Joe than the necklace, and I would have told him so.”
“I’ll bet you would. And Mrs. Stark wonders if you could give her the recipe for that plum cake. Would you mind writing it out for her before you come?”
“Of course. And I must thank you again for taking us out to the deli on Friday night. That was most unexpected, and such a treat not to have to cook in the heat.”
“She said it reminded her of our early days. A plumbing disaster, and then having to wash all that mucky laundry. Young marrieds. It’s always an adventure. Usually not attempted grand larceny, though.”
“No,” I said. “We’ll be happy to have our quiet life back again.”
Mr. Penderleigh was indeed short, mostly bald, and dry in manner. He arrived accompanied by a robust locking satchel and an even more robust guard.