Manof Chpt 23

Chapter 23

(Above, a street artist at work in Barcelona)

Out on the street people were appearing. The sun was shining and yet there was feeling of sobriety in the faces they passed. They crossed the broad Via Laietana and entered an area of narrow lanes.

A few minutes later they faced a beautiful old building with arched on the main floor. They were at Casa Marti, the building now occupied by Els Quatro Gats. Bruce made a mental note of the street called Carrer De Montsio. At the entrance there was a stand with the menu mounted on it. The design was of the restaurant itself with figures sitting and drinking.

From the nineteenth-century style, Bruce knew it had been designed, as Carlos had said, by Picasso, who frequented the bar-restaurant as a young man.

Picasso and His Friends Were Always There...

"This is where the poets, sculptors, artists and writers of the future hung out. They were poor and unknown then. Picasso and his friends were always here. People like Nonell the sculptor, Sabartes, the poet-friend of Picasso and his ill fated friend Carlos Casagemas."

"I have heard of them," Bruce replied as they entered. Then he added, "I have met Picasso."

Carlos looked surprised. But before he could say anything, a waiter greeted them.

"Ah, Senor Diaz. Hola. It is so good to see you again. It has been too long."

Carlos smiled broadly. "But I was just here three days ago," he chided.

"Yes, yes," the waiter said as they walked past the bar and into the main dining room, "but three days is too long."

Carlos slapped him on the back and slipped a bill into his hand."

"Waiters are the same, the world over," he whispered to Bruce.

"Wine?" he asked Bruce.

"Certainly," came the reply. "It is, you understand, after noon."

"My thoughts exactly. He turned to the waiter. "The usual," he said with a smile. "And bring us some ametiles garrapinyades." "They are sugar coated almonds," he explained to Bruce. The restaurant caters to the varied taste of intellectuals. It has always enjoyed a certain popularity.

There Were Few People in the Large Room

Bruce looked around him. There were very few people in the large square room. The ceilings were extremely high and there were tables all around the balcony that covered all sides. On the walls below and above were bright colored paintings. Carlos explained the symbol of the bicycle as they admired the Ramon Casas painting near the bar.

The paintings were a great contrast to the décor which was rather plain and worn. But the room worked. It was a real find and Bruce felt relaxed as he settled in to talk to his elegant looking young lunch partner.

Carlos opened the conversation. "What exactly brings you to Barcelona?" he asked.

Bruce took a breath.

"A conundrum. A puzzle. A mystery."

"Ahh, said Carlos. "Just the thing to solve over a few glasses of wine. Let me order for you. I'm sure you'll like a typical Catalan lunch. Are you very hungry?"

(Barcelona's famous El Qutre Gats Restaurant is filled with history)

Bruce smiled. "I'm always ready to eat."

"Then we'll start with Graellada de marisc, an assortment of grilled shellfish with garlic mayonnaise."

They ordered a very dry champagne that Carlos made sure was brut de brut from the Freixenet cellars.

"This company sells more wine each year than the French sell champagne," he explained. "To your good health."

They talked about the restaurant and the great names that had frequented it since the 19th century. Bruce was interested in the days when Picasso had been in Barcelona. Carlos knew about the history of Barcelona and the time passed quickly.

Bruce Brings Up the Subject of da Vinci

Eventually, Bruce brought up the subject of the da Vinci.
"Do you remember the small da Vinci drawing of a set of wings that was on the wall at Chateau Hautefort when you were last there?"

"No," he replied. "I can't say that I do."

"It was near the piano. You were there with the lawyer, Maitre Picard."

"Oh yes. I remember now. I wasn't sure what it was. Picard explained but I was quite unimpressive."

"But it was done by the master himself. It would have been worth a lot of money." Carlos frowned. "I found it uninteresting. I only vaguely remember. They have much better works on their walls."

"That may be true but the fact is that some weeks ago, it was stolen."

"Stolen? I can't imagine why. It was a simple line drawing…"

"But it was worth a small fortune," Bruce added.

"You know, it's very interesting. I have discovered, in my business that people often put certain values on things that are worth much less."

"But how many collectors can boast that they own a da Vinci."
"True but there are better examples."

"Yes, but not for sale and rich people have huge egos. They want what nobody else has."

Carlos poured another glass of wine. "And what interest would I have in such a simple sketch. I sell antique furniture."

"But you also sell paintings."

"That little work was not a painting and besides, it is not I who sells paintings. That department belongs entirely to my studio partner. We share space, Rina and I. She knows very little about furniture and I am a novice when it comes to art. We collaborate. We need each other to round out our business. Ask her if it has value. I'll wager she says it does not."

"Well," said Bruce, lighting a cigar, "But she hasn't seen it and I'm certain she won't agree with you."

"We'll see when she comes. She is joining us isn't she?"

"Yes. She said she would try."

"So it seems that you do not know art and I might have come here for nothing, unless Senorita Alvarez can help."

Hautefort and Marie-Claude

They chatted about Hautefort and Marie-Claude.

"That was a great tragedy. I never should have lost her. I was a fool."

"Perhaps, but that is your business. I am here as a favor to her. It is my business to investigate stolen art. I came here because she asked me to."

(In Barcelona, a statue of el toro relaxing)

"You mean, she thinks I stole her precious drawing?"

"No. Not at all. She thought you might be able to help."

Carlos was annoyed. "No, I can't help but Rina might. Yet, that too is a long shot.

You'll have to ask her. She does know a great many people in the business. Some are, shall we say, 'capable of anything'. Perhaps she can suggest something."

"Yes," said Bruce. "Perhaps she can. We'll see. But tell me. Did she know about the da Vinci?"

"She didn't see it. She was never there. But I may have mentioned it to her."

"Even though you considered it a minor work?"

"Yes. Perhaps. I really don't remember. Ask her. Here she is now."

(Click here for Chapter 24)


	Chapter 23 (Above, a street artist at work in Barcelona) Out on the street people were appearing. The sun was shining and yet there was feeling of sobriety in the faces they passed. They crossed the broad Via Laietana and entered an area of narrow lanes. A few minutes later they faced a beautiful old building with arched on the main floor. They were at Casa Marti, the building now occupied by Els Quatro Gats. Bruce made a mental note of the street called Carrer De Montsio. At the entrance there was a stand with the menu mounted on it. The design was of the restaurant itself with figures sitting and drinking. From the nineteenth-century style, Bruce knew it had been designed, as Carlos had said, by Picasso, who frequented the bar-restaurant as a young man. Picasso and His Friends Were Always There... "This is where the poets, sculptors, artists and writers of the future hung out. They were poor and unknown then. Picasso and his friends were always here. People like Nonell the sculptor, Sabartes, the poet-friend of Picasso and his ill fated friend Carlos Casagemas." "I have heard of them," Bruce replied as they entered. Then he added, "I have met Picasso." Carlos looked surprised. But before he could say anything, a waiter greeted them. "Ah, Senor Diaz. Hola. It is so good to see you again. It has been too long." Carlos smiled broadly. "But I was just here three days ago," he chided. "Yes, yes," the waiter said as they walked past the bar and into the main dining room, "but three days is too long." Carlos slapped him on the back and slipped a bill into his hand." "Waiters are the same, the world over," he whispered to Bruce. "Wine?" he asked Bruce. "Certainly," came the reply. "It is, you understand, after noon." "My thoughts exactly. He turned to the waiter. "The usual," he said with a smile. "And bring us some ametiles garrapinyades." "They are sugar coated almonds," he explained to Bruce. The restaurant caters to the varied taste of intellectuals. It has always enjoyed a certain popularity. There Were Few People in the Large Room Bruce looked around him. There were very few people in the large square room. The ceilings were extremely high and there were tables all around the balcony that covered all sides. On the walls below and above were bright colored paintings. Carlos explained the symbol of the bicycle as they admired the Ramon Casas painting near the bar. The paintings were a great contrast to the décor which was rather plain and worn. But the room worked. It was a real find and Bruce felt relaxed as he settled in to talk to his elegant looking young lunch partner. Carlos opened the conversation. "What exactly brings you to Barcelona?" he asked. Bruce took a breath. "A conundrum. A puzzle. A mystery." "Ahh, said Carlos. "Just the thing to solve over a few glasses of wine. Let me order for you. I'm sure you'll like a typical Catalan lunch. Are you very hungry?" (Barcelona's famous El Qutre Gats Restaurant is filled with history) Bruce smiled. "I'm always ready to eat." "Then we'll start with Graellada de marisc, an assortment of grilled shellfish with garlic mayonnaise." They ordered a very dry champagne that Carlos made sure was brut de brut from the Freixenet cellars. "This company sells more wine each year than the French sell champagne," he explained. "To your good health." They talked about the restaurant and the great names that had frequented it since the 19th century. Bruce was interested in the days when Picasso had been in Barcelona. Carlos knew about the history of Barcelona and the time passed quickly. Bruce Brings Up the Subject of da Vinci Eventually, Bruce brought up the subject of the da Vinci. "Do you remember the small da Vinci drawing of a set of wings that was on the wall at Chateau Hautefort when you were last there?" "No," he replied. "I can't say that I do." "It was near the piano. You were there with the lawyer, Maitre Picard." "Oh yes. I remember now. I wasn't sure what it was. Picard explained but I was quite unimpressive." "But it was done by the master himself. It would have been worth a lot of money." Carlos frowned. "I found it uninteresting. I only vaguely remember. They have much better works on their walls." "That may be true but the fact is that some weeks ago, it was stolen." "Stolen? I can't imagine why. It was a simple line drawing…" "But it was worth a small fortune," Bruce added. "You know, it's very interesting. I have discovered, in my business that people often put certain values on things that are worth much less." "But how many collectors can boast that they own a da Vinci." "True but there are better examples." "Yes, but not for sale and rich people have huge egos. They want what nobody else has." Carlos poured another glass of wine. "And what interest would I have in such a simple sketch. I sell antique furniture." "But you also sell paintings." "That little work was not a painting and besides, it is not I who sells paintings. That department belongs entirely to my studio partner. We share space, Rina and I. She knows very little about furniture and I am a novice when it comes to art. We collaborate. We need each other to round out our business. Ask her if it has value. I'll wager she says it does not." "Well," said Bruce, lighting a cigar, "But she hasn't seen it and I'm certain she won't agree with you." "We'll see when she comes. She is joining us isn't she?" "Yes. She said she would try." "So it seems that you do not know art and I might have come here for nothing, unless Senorita Alvarez can help." Hautefort and Marie-Claude They chatted about Hautefort and Marie-Claude. "That was a great tragedy. I never should have lost her. I was a fool." "Perhaps, but that is your business. I am here as a favor to her. It is my business to investigate stolen art. I came here because she asked me to." (In Barcelona, a statue of el toro relaxing) "You mean, she thinks I stole her precious drawing?" "No. Not at all. She thought you might be able to help." Carlos was annoyed. "No, I can't help but Rina might. Yet, that too is a long shot. You'll have to ask her. She does know a great many people in the business. Some are, shall we say, 'capable of anything'. Perhaps she can suggest something." "Yes," said Bruce. "Perhaps she can. We'll see. But tell me. Did she know about the da Vinci?" "She didn't see it. She was never there. But I may have mentioned it to her." "Even though you considered it a minor work?" "Yes. Perhaps. I really don't remember. Ask her. Here she is now." (Click here for Chapter 24)