Manof Chpt 22

Chapter 22

(Above, a portion of a Barcelona roof mosaic by Gaudi, as sketched by Arnie Greenberg)

After a brief morning walk in the area the next morning, Bruce retuned to his hotel, He was surprised at how few people he saw. It was a late city and mornings were very quiet.

Breakfast at the hotel was a treat, especially since the buffet included fresh sweet Spanish melon and eggs cooked to order by a specialty chef in a high white chef's hat. Service was impeccable and Bruce left a few coins on the table as a courtesy, not a necessity.

He returned to his room, made a few calls and looked at his watch. It was almost eleven o'clock.

He sat at the desk and dialed the number Marie-Claude had given him.

"Hola," a girl answered.

"Do you speak English?"

"Si. Yes."

(A view from Parc Guell in Barcelona)

"Id like to speak to Senor Carlos Diaz, please."

"He is not here. He comes back in half hour."

"May I have your address? I'd like to meet with him. My name is Kellner, from the United States."

"We are at number 5 Carrer de Sant Pere mes Alt, directly across from the Palau de la Musica. What time you like to come?"

"Noon would be good."

"Yes, he is here noon. I tell him. Gracias, Senor Kellner."

Bruce Had an Idea Where Museo Was

Bruce had a fair idea where the Museo was, but he consulted his map and circled the street. He estimated it would take ten to fifteen minutes. He decided to leave earlier.

He arrived near the museo at eleven thirty. He admired the outside of the magnificent concert hall. It really was a palace which his guidebook told him was the only concert hall in Europe lit by natural light. It was designed by someone named Lluis Domenech I Montaner and completed in 1908 on the site of an old monetary.

He admired the façade and the mosaic-covered pillars topped with the busts of great composers. He had seen it the night before but now, in the morning sunlight it seemed more vivid. He made a mental note to take one of the tours to see the inside but now he had other things to do.

He easily found the antique shop at number 5. It was a large space with a scripted orange and red sign, the colors of the Catalan flag. On it were the words Diaz-Alv Antiques. Bruce approached and the door opened. A tall exotic looking woman stood before him. She was stylishly dressed in a skirt and extremely high heels. She was the height of sophistication in every way.

(The back of the Sagrada Familia of Gaudi, as sketched by Arnie Greenberg)

She smiled. "Welcome. You are Senor Kellner?"

"Yes." He was taken aback.

"I have guessed correct. You are on time. Please to come in."

He entered the elaborate room. It was filled with furniture, carpets, trunks and valises, books and paintings. At first glance Bruce realized that everything was of the highest quality.

"I am Carlos Diaz' partner. My name is Marina Alvarez." She reached out and shook his hand firmly. "You well call me Rina, if you please."

Pretty Good English

Her English was not perfect, but it was very good."

"Where did you learn English. You speak well."

"For a Spaniard," she quipped. "I spent some time in England, during the war." Then she added, "Carlos had an appointment. I told him you were coming. He should be here any minute. You know Carlos for a long time?"

"No. We never met. I am a friend of a friend."

"Ah," she smiled. Friends are good. They are hard to find."

Bruce noticed her perfect teeth, perfectly straight nose shining black hair and her flashing eyes could seduce you with one look. She was a poised and beautiful woman and she knew it. But her manner, though aloof was not disarming. She was a good hostess, easy on the eyes.

"Would you care to look around? Are you searching for something special?"

"No. I am just anxious to talk to Senor Diaz, but I would like to look around."

She walked behind him as he looked at the furniture. Much of it was ornate and carved in a Spanish style. There were armoires, chairs and whole bedroom sets. There were mirrors and empty picture frames.

"Do you not sell art?"

"Not here. We have another outlet for paintings. Over the last few years, people have been interested in selling household goods. Rents are very high. Even the rich are seeking smaller places to live. It is a buyer's market. Selling is another thing."

"So you wait for the right time. There are beautiful things here. They will surely sell."

"Are you in the antique or furniture business?"

"No," he smiled. I do research."

"Ahh. I see. You must tell me all about it one day. But here is Senor Diaz. Hola, Carlos. This is senor Kellner."

A Tall, Handsome Man...

Bruce turned. He faced a tall, handsome man with long black hair tied behind his head with a cord. He was dressed in a suave fashion with dark, tight fitting pants, an open shirt with slightly puffy sleeves and shining loafers. While Marina Alvarez was beautiful, Carlos Diaz was exquisite. His manners were studied."

"Good day, Senor Kellner. I hope I didn't make you wait."

"Not at all. Your beautiful colleague was just showing me around."

"Yes. I hope she made you feel at home."

"Certainly. Thank you."

Carlos seemed to look Bruce over. "Have we met before?"

"No. I don't think so. I have come here to do some research. I wonder if there's a place we can go to and, perhaps have a drink. What I want to talk to you may be of interest."

"How did you hear about our little place of business?"

Bruce smiled. "I am an acquaintance of Conte Constantin d'Autefort".

Carlos smiled broadly. "In that case we shall surely have a drink and, perhaps some lunch. Marina can watch the shop and, perhaps join us later when she closes for lunch."
The lady smiled like a temptress. "It will be my pleasure."

Carlos looked at his watch. "Perhaps we can go to Els Quatro Gats. They serve the best lunch. It is only five minutes from here."

Carlos handed Marina some papers, whispered a few instructions and he and Bruce walked out."

"It was a pleasure meeting you. We'll see you later, I hope."

"Si, Senor. I hope we can see more of each other very soon."

Bruce reprimanded himself silently for his lecherous thoughts.
"Yes. Later," he smiled.

(Click here for Chapter 23)


	Chapter 22 (Above, a portion of a Barcelona roof mosaic by Gaudi, as sketched by Arnie Greenberg) After a brief morning walk in the area the next morning, Bruce retuned to his hotel, He was surprised at how few people he saw. It was a late city and mornings were very quiet. Breakfast at the hotel was a treat, especially since the buffet included fresh sweet Spanish melon and eggs cooked to order by a specialty chef in a high white chef's hat. Service was impeccable and Bruce left a few coins on the table as a courtesy, not a necessity. He returned to his room, made a few calls and looked at his watch. It was almost eleven o'clock. He sat at the desk and dialed the number Marie-Claude had given him. "Hola," a girl answered. "Do you speak English?" "Si. Yes." (A view from Parc Guell in Barcelona) "Id like to speak to Senor Carlos Diaz, please." "He is not here. He comes back in half hour." "May I have your address? I'd like to meet with him. My name is Kellner, from the United States." "We are at number 5 Carrer de Sant Pere mes Alt, directly across from the Palau de la Musica. What time you like to come?" "Noon would be good." "Yes, he is here noon. I tell him. Gracias, Senor Kellner." Bruce Had an Idea Where Museo Was Bruce had a fair idea where the Museo was, but he consulted his map and circled the street. He estimated it would take ten to fifteen minutes. He decided to leave earlier. He arrived near the museo at eleven thirty. He admired the outside of the magnificent concert hall. It really was a palace which his guidebook told him was the only concert hall in Europe lit by natural light. It was designed by someone named Lluis Domenech I Montaner and completed in 1908 on the site of an old monetary. He admired the façade and the mosaic-covered pillars topped with the busts of great composers. He had seen it the night before but now, in the morning sunlight it seemed more vivid. He made a mental note to take one of the tours to see the inside but now he had other things to do. He easily found the antique shop at number 5. It was a large space with a scripted orange and red sign, the colors of the Catalan flag. On it were the words Diaz-Alv Antiques. Bruce approached and the door opened. A tall exotic looking woman stood before him. She was stylishly dressed in a skirt and extremely high heels. She was the height of sophistication in every way. (The back of the Sagrada Familia of Gaudi, as sketched by Arnie Greenberg) She smiled. "Welcome. You are Senor Kellner?" "Yes." He was taken aback. "I have guessed correct. You are on time. Please to come in." He entered the elaborate room. It was filled with furniture, carpets, trunks and valises, books and paintings. At first glance Bruce realized that everything was of the highest quality. "I am Carlos Diaz' partner. My name is Marina Alvarez." She reached out and shook his hand firmly. "You well call me Rina, if you please." Pretty Good English Her English was not perfect, but it was very good." "Where did you learn English. You speak well." "For a Spaniard," she quipped. "I spent some time in England, during the war." Then she added, "Carlos had an appointment. I told him you were coming. He should be here any minute. You know Carlos for a long time?" "No. We never met. I am a friend of a friend." "Ah," she smiled. Friends are good. They are hard to find." Bruce noticed her perfect teeth, perfectly straight nose shining black hair and her flashing eyes could seduce you with one look. She was a poised and beautiful woman and she knew it. But her manner, though aloof was not disarming. She was a good hostess, easy on the eyes. "Would you care to look around? Are you searching for something special?" "No. I am just anxious to talk to Senor Diaz, but I would like to look around." She walked behind him as he looked at the furniture. Much of it was ornate and carved in a Spanish style. There were armoires, chairs and whole bedroom sets. There were mirrors and empty picture frames. "Do you not sell art?" "Not here. We have another outlet for paintings. Over the last few years, people have been interested in selling household goods. Rents are very high. Even the rich are seeking smaller places to live. It is a buyer's market. Selling is another thing." "So you wait for the right time. There are beautiful things here. They will surely sell." "Are you in the antique or furniture business?" "No," he smiled. I do research." "Ahh. I see. You must tell me all about it one day. But here is Senor Diaz. Hola, Carlos. This is senor Kellner." A Tall, Handsome Man... Bruce turned. He faced a tall, handsome man with long black hair tied behind his head with a cord. He was dressed in a suave fashion with dark, tight fitting pants, an open shirt with slightly puffy sleeves and shining loafers. While Marina Alvarez was beautiful, Carlos Diaz was exquisite. His manners were studied." "Good day, Senor Kellner. I hope I didn't make you wait." "Not at all. Your beautiful colleague was just showing me around." "Yes. I hope she made you feel at home." "Certainly. Thank you." Carlos seemed to look Bruce over. "Have we met before?" "No. I don't think so. I have come here to do some research. I wonder if there's a place we can go to and, perhaps have a drink. What I want to talk to you may be of interest." "How did you hear about our little place of business?" Bruce smiled. "I am an acquaintance of Conte Constantin d'Autefort". Carlos smiled broadly. "In that case we shall surely have a drink and, perhaps some lunch. Marina can watch the shop and, perhaps join us later when she closes for lunch." The lady smiled like a temptress. "It will be my pleasure." Carlos looked at his watch. "Perhaps we can go to Els Quatro Gats. They serve the best lunch. It is only five minutes from here." Carlos handed Marina some papers, whispered a few instructions and he and Bruce walked out." "It was a pleasure meeting you. We'll see you later, I hope." "Si, Senor. I hope we can see more of each other very soon." Bruce reprimanded himself silently for his lecherous thoughts. "Yes. Later," he smiled. (Click here for Chapter 23)