Manof Chpt8

Chapter 17

The time had come to see Maitre Picard. Again it was within walking distance. Brantome was a tiny, crowded village. Bruce enjoyed the hub- bub of people and the wonderful architecture. This time they walked along the water. Bruce paused to look back at the white Abbey and the11th century belfry.

Marie Claude explained that Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantome and third son of the Baron of Bourdeille had been named Abbot here at age 15.

"He was," she suggested," more interested in poetry and wrote of his lovers who, people whispered, included Mary, Queen of Scots. We cannot accept what he wrote as true but we learn a great deal from him. There's a nearby town of Bourdeilles and an old chateau worth visiting. We can drive through there later if there's time."

They now stood before a gem of 15th-century architecture. It was a well preserved townhouse. On a gold plaque were the words 'Picard, De Jean and Fillion…Avocats'.

The Secretary Rises...

The secretary rose when she saw Marie Claude and embraced her.

"Bonjour Comptesse. It has been a long time. Welcome.'

Marie Claude introduced Bruce as a friend and the visitors were immediately ushered into Emile Picard's office. Bruce was not ready for what he saw.

Standing at the far end of a very large office at an oak desk and surrounded by leather bound books and mountains of papers was a nattily dressed little man who could be no more that five feet tall. He placed his cigar in a cut glass ashtray and greeted Marie Claude warmly.

"This, Maitre Picard, is my friend Bruce Kellner."

The men shook hands. The lawyer held out a chair for Marie Claude and motioned Bruce to sit down. He then reached for a humidor and offered Bruce a cigar. Bruce glanced at Marie Claude who nodded. Bruce happily reached out and selected a sweet scented Cuban cigar. Maitre Picard offered Bruce his gold lighter.
After a few minutes of greetings and the usual opening conversation Picard turned to Bruce.

"I assume there is a legal reason for your visit here today. How can I help you?"

Bruce Sits Back in His Chair

Bruce sat back in his soft chair. He blew smoke away from his host and started.

"Maitre Picard, I have been engaged by the Countess and her brother to investigate a work of art that is missing from the Chateau de Hauteford." He reached into his pocket and withdrew his business card.

Picard glanced at it and read aloud, "Bruce Robert Kellner, Art Investigator, New York City." He looked up. "Your work is out of my realm in more ways than one. I am a French lawyer with only a layman's passing interest in art and you are an American Art Investigator. How can I help you?"

"Well," Bruce started, "it may be the countess and her brother you can help. I'm simply a hired hand as they say in New York."

Picard nodded agreement and Bruce continued.
"Have you ever seen the line drawing at the chateau of a pair of wings, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci?"

Picard drew on his cigar. He looked dwarfed behind his oversized desk. The sun came in from the window, accenting the billowing smoke and obscuring Picard's face but Bruce knew that the lawyer was staring into his eyes.

"Bien sur." I have been to the chateau many times. I was present when the paintings were returned to Hautefort at the end of the war. They had been buried in a safe place during the occupation. I checked the arrival of the shipment myself. I must add that the picture you are talking about was not very auspicious. It was a simple drawing of a set of wings on yellowing paper. We had it mounted behind glare-proof glass."

"When was the last time you saw it?"

Picard sat back and thought.

"Probably about a year ago. I was there for M Le Comte's 45th birthday. We retired to the gold room for a cigar. I remembered that I remarked that it was in a very, shall we say, out of the way place. It was partially obscured by a large plant on the opposite side of a piano. But why, after all these years is there suddenly an interest in the drawing? Don't tell me it was stolen."

Stolen by Someone During the Last 3 or 4 Months

"Exactly, Monsieur Picard. Stolen by someone during the last three or four months."

"You mean you don't know when it was taken?"

"Not exactly. You are right about it not being in an obvious place. Monsieur Le Comte discovered that someone had taken it from the frame and replaced it with a copy. A bad copy, I'd add."

The lawyer turned to Marie-Claude. "But why didn't you notify me. Perhaps we could have offered a reward. We could have mounted an investigation."

Marie-Claude smiled. "That's exactly what I did. Mr. Kellner is one of the world's most successful art investigators. I was told about him by Picasso's mistress, Francoise Gilot. We were school friends."

"Ah, yes," Picard smiled. "Now I know where I heard the name Kellner. You were responsible for finding the missing Picasso recently."

Bruce withdrew his cigar. "For a man who has only a passing layman's interest in art, you seem to be up on the latest news."

"It is news I'm interested in, Monsieur, not necessarily art news."

Bruce continued. Maitre Picard, is there anyone you can think of who might have stolen that drawing, someone who admired it, someone who took a special interest in it, someone…"

"Not at all Mr. Kellner. I saw the drawing a few times, was not particularly impressed except for the fact that it was old and done by da Vinci himself and that is all."

"Well, we now both work for the family. If, you hear of anyone who might know something or even brings up the subject, would you let us know/"

Picard rose. He looked even smaller. He extended his hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you Monsieur Kellner." He smiled at Marie Claude and walked his guests to the door. "Give my best to your brother. I haven't seen him for a long…"

His Facial Expression Changes

Suddenly his facial expression changed. He stopped, turned to Bruce and said, "Wait one moment. The last time I saw the drawing I was not alone. I was," he hesitated, 'with…" He turned to Marie Claude. "The last time I saw the drawing, I was with Carlos, you're ex husband."

"That's right," Marie-Claude exclaimed. I remember Carlos playing the piano the night we all met to sign the documents for the jewels I returned. It was ion that room. You were all talking and smoking and I was frankly, quite bored. I sat at the piano for a few minutes. And wait. Once while Carlos and I were married, I mention to him that we had a da Vinci. But at that time it was hidden away."

"And Carlos is interested in swords and antiques. I wonder."

Picard looked at Marie-Claude. "Is it possible? You know him best."

Marie Claude sat down again. "Carlos. No, I doubt it. For all his faults I don't think he'd steal anything. Let alone from me. What do you think Bruce?"

"My dear," he frowned, "I have learned in this world that anything is possible."

They left.

Suddenly things had changed.

(Click here for the next chapter)


	Chapter 17 The time had come to see Maitre Picard. Again it was within walking distance. Brantome was a tiny, crowded village. Bruce enjoyed the hub- bub of people and the wonderful architecture. This time they walked along the water. Bruce paused to look back at the white Abbey and the11th century belfry. Marie Claude explained that Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantome and third son of the Baron of Bourdeille had been named Abbot here at age 15. "He was," she suggested," more interested in poetry and wrote of his lovers who, people whispered, included Mary, Queen of Scots. We cannot accept what he wrote as true but we learn a great deal from him. There's a nearby town of Bourdeilles and an old chateau worth visiting. We can drive through there later if there's time." They now stood before a gem of 15th-century architecture. It was a well preserved townhouse. On a gold plaque were the words 'Picard, De Jean and Fillion…Avocats'. The Secretary Rises... The secretary rose when she saw Marie Claude and embraced her. "Bonjour Comptesse. It has been a long time. Welcome.' Marie Claude introduced Bruce as a friend and the visitors were immediately ushered into Emile Picard's office. Bruce was not ready for what he saw. Standing at the far end of a very large office at an oak desk and surrounded by leather bound books and mountains of papers was a nattily dressed little man who could be no more that five feet tall. He placed his cigar in a cut glass ashtray and greeted Marie Claude warmly. "This, Maitre Picard, is my friend Bruce Kellner." The men shook hands. The lawyer held out a chair for Marie Claude and motioned Bruce to sit down. He then reached for a humidor and offered Bruce a cigar. Bruce glanced at Marie Claude who nodded. Bruce happily reached out and selected a sweet scented Cuban cigar. Maitre Picard offered Bruce his gold lighter. After a few minutes of greetings and the usual opening conversation Picard turned to Bruce. "I assume there is a legal reason for your visit here today. How can I help you?" Bruce Sits Back in His Chair Bruce sat back in his soft chair. He blew smoke away from his host and started. "Maitre Picard, I have been engaged by the Countess and her brother to investigate a work of art that is missing from the Chateau de Hauteford." He reached into his pocket and withdrew his business card. Picard glanced at it and read aloud, "Bruce Robert Kellner, Art Investigator, New York City." He looked up. "Your work is out of my realm in more ways than one. I am a French lawyer with only a layman's passing interest in art and you are an American Art Investigator. How can I help you?" "Well," Bruce started, "it may be the countess and her brother you can help. I'm simply a hired hand as they say in New York." Picard nodded agreement and Bruce continued. "Have you ever seen the line drawing at the chateau of a pair of wings, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci?" Picard drew on his cigar. He looked dwarfed behind his oversized desk. The sun came in from the window, accenting the billowing smoke and obscuring Picard's face but Bruce knew that the lawyer was staring into his eyes. "Bien sur." I have been to the chateau many times. I was present when the paintings were returned to Hautefort at the end of the war. They had been buried in a safe place during the occupation. I checked the arrival of the shipment myself. I must add that the picture you are talking about was not very auspicious. It was a simple drawing of a set of wings on yellowing paper. We had it mounted behind glare-proof glass." "When was the last time you saw it?" Picard sat back and thought. "Probably about a year ago. I was there for M Le Comte's 45th birthday. We retired to the gold room for a cigar. I remembered that I remarked that it was in a very, shall we say, out of the way place. It was partially obscured by a large plant on the opposite side of a piano. But why, after all these years is there suddenly an interest in the drawing? Don't tell me it was stolen." Stolen by Someone During the Last 3 or 4 Months "Exactly, Monsieur Picard. Stolen by someone during the last three or four months." "You mean you don't know when it was taken?" "Not exactly. You are right about it not being in an obvious place. Monsieur Le Comte discovered that someone had taken it from the frame and replaced it with a copy. A bad copy, I'd add." The lawyer turned to Marie-Claude. "But why didn't you notify me. Perhaps we could have offered a reward. We could have mounted an investigation." Marie-Claude smiled. "That's exactly what I did. Mr. Kellner is one of the world's most successful art investigators. I was told about him by Picasso's mistress, Francoise Gilot. We were school friends." "Ah, yes," Picard smiled. "Now I know where I heard the name Kellner. You were responsible for finding the missing Picasso recently." Bruce withdrew his cigar. "For a man who has only a passing layman's interest in art, you seem to be up on the latest news." "It is news I'm interested in, Monsieur, not necessarily art news." Bruce continued. Maitre Picard, is there anyone you can think of who might have stolen that drawing, someone who admired it, someone who took a special interest in it, someone…" "Not at all Mr. Kellner. I saw the drawing a few times, was not particularly impressed except for the fact that it was old and done by da Vinci himself and that is all." "Well, we now both work for the family. If, you hear of anyone who might know something or even brings up the subject, would you let us know/" Picard rose. He looked even smaller. He extended his hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you Monsieur Kellner." He smiled at Marie Claude and walked his guests to the door. "Give my best to your brother. I haven't seen him for a long…" His Facial Expression Changes Suddenly his facial expression changed. He stopped, turned to Bruce and said, "Wait one moment. The last time I saw the drawing I was not alone. I was," he hesitated, 'with…" He turned to Marie Claude. "The last time I saw the drawing, I was with Carlos, you're ex husband." "That's right," Marie-Claude exclaimed. I remember Carlos playing the piano the night we all met to sign the documents for the jewels I returned. It was ion that room. You were all talking and smoking and I was frankly, quite bored. I sat at the piano for a few minutes. And wait. Once while Carlos and I were married, I mention to him that we had a da Vinci. But at that time it was hidden away." "And Carlos is interested in swords and antiques. I wonder." Picard looked at Marie-Claude. "Is it possible? You know him best." Marie Claude sat down again. "Carlos. No, I doubt it. For all his faults I don't think he'd steal anything. Let alone from me. What do you think Bruce?" "My dear," he frowned, "I have learned in this world that anything is possible." They left. Suddenly things had changed. (Click here for the next chapter)