Manof Chpt32

Chapter 32

On the walk back to town, Bruce consulted his notes. He found the address of the shop and offices of the Da Vinci collector and expert Karl Hellstrom. They walked back towards the castle and turned left just before the river road.

There they faced a beautiful archway with a clock. It led into a street with no traffic and people aimlessly looking in shop windows. After a minute Bruce said. "We're there."

They stood before a large storefront. The sign said, 'Gallerie Hellstrom…Re-Finishing'. The humor of the sign, such that it was, was not lost on either of them. Inside, they were met by a small young man, well dressed and rather fashionable.

Marie-Claude Is Not Recognized

"I'd like to see Mr Karl Hellstrom," Bruce said. "My name is Kellner. This is Marie-Claude d'Autefot." He purposely omitted the countess title. The small man smiled but did not seem to recognize Marie-Claude.

"I am afraid he is not here at the moment but I do expect him shortly."

"Good," said Bruce. "We'll wait."

"Very well," he smiled. Feel free to look around. Can I get you some coffee or perhaps a glass of Chardonnay?"

"Chardonnay would be nice," Bruce smiled. Marie Claude nodded.

The Gallery Had Few Pictures in It

The gallery was a large space with very few pictures. But Bruce recognized most of the. There was a Rembrandt, a Renoir, two Surat's and a very large saltimbanque by Picasso. Bruce stood before it for a long time. The small gentleman arrived with the wine.
"Ah, monsieur, you have good tastes. That is one of Picasso's early works. It will be worth a fortune one day. Would you like to make an offer? It is listed at 17,000 francs."

"A mere pittance. That's only $3,000 American," Bruce whispered.

Bruce shook his head. "That's a bit rich for my blood." He knew that in truth, it was a steal but that's not why he was in the shop. He accepted the wine and walked around. In one corner he found a table full of posters. They were all reproductions of da Vinci drawings.

The small man was still following. "Monsieur Hellstrom has a weakness for Da Vinci. He always offers prints to his customers."

"Are there no originals?"

"No, I'm afraid not," he smiled. "There are some at the Clos Luce."

"Yes, I know. I was just there."

"Then you must have seen Monsieur Hellstrom. He devotes much of his time to the rebuilding of Clos Luce. He's a large man with a beard."

Bruce replied that he saw no such man.

"Well, never mind. He's here now."

They all looked towards the door, a large bearded man with twinkling eyes came in carrying a heavy box. He was dressed in workman's clothing and wore large round glasses. Nobody would have guessed that this man was a millionaire expert on the work of Da Vinci. But looks are deceiving. As a matter of fact Bruce thought that he had seen the same man working at one end of the grounds at Clos Luce.

The little man called out, "Ah Monsieur Hellestrom, you have visitors."

"...at Your Service"

The big man put down his packages, rubbed his hands on his jacket and shook Bruce's hand. "I am Karl Hellstrom, at your service." He pronounced it Hell -strume with that special 'u' that only a Finn could provide. Then he added, "Were you not at the Clos Luce a while ago?"

"Yes. We thought you looked familiar too. You were…"

"Cleaning," Hellstrom replied. "Someone spilled a box of shavings. I must do all the work myself. It is hard to get help."

"But surely, you do not work there."

"Yes and no. I offer my services free of charge but I'm there at least three days a week." He nodded to Marie-Claude, "Karl Hellstrom, at your service." His clothes were worn and his hands rough but his manners were excellent."

"Enchante, Monsieur. I am Mar…"

"Excuse me, Mademoiselle, but I know who you are. I was at a luncheon a while ago at your chateau. We didn't officially meet but I cannot forget such a lovely lady. You are the Countess d'Autefort. I know your brother. It had to do with horses."

Marie-Claude was surprised. She didn't remember the gentleman. "I think 'Marie-Claude' would suffice."

Bruce Extends His Hand

Bruce extended his hand. "And I am Bruce Kellner, a friend of the Comptesse. You are interested in Da Vinci, I see."

"Yes. I am interested in Art. But there is something special here in Amboise mainly because the ghost of Leonardo is everywhere. His remains are here, you know this is where he was put to rest."

"Yes, we know," replied Marie-Claude. "It is Da Vinci that brought us here."

Bruce handed Hellstrom his card. "I am investigating the disappearance of a small drawing done by the master. I was given your name by someone in Barcelona. I was told that you know a great deal about such drawings. I was hoping I could ask you a few questions in a professional capacity."

"Certainly," the big man smiled. "Perhaps you can give me an hour to wash up and change. Or, better still, may I invite you to my humble home tonight. We can have dinner and discuss Leonardo, my favorite topic. Perhaps I'll be able to help you. I had a wonderful dinner at Hautefort. I'd like to repay your hospitality."

Click here for Chapter 33.


	Chapter 32 On the walk back to town, Bruce consulted his notes. He found the address of the shop and offices of the Da Vinci collector and expert Karl Hellstrom. They walked back towards the castle and turned left just before the river road. There they faced a beautiful archway with a clock. It led into a street with no traffic and people aimlessly looking in shop windows. After a minute Bruce said. "We're there." They stood before a large storefront. The sign said, 'Gallerie Hellstrom…Re-Finishing'. The humor of the sign, such that it was, was not lost on either of them. Inside, they were met by a small young man, well dressed and rather fashionable. Marie-Claude Is Not Recognized "I'd like to see Mr Karl Hellstrom," Bruce said. "My name is Kellner. This is Marie-Claude d'Autefot." He purposely omitted the countess title. The small man smiled but did not seem to recognize Marie-Claude. "I am afraid he is not here at the moment but I do expect him shortly." "Good," said Bruce. "We'll wait." "Very well," he smiled. Feel free to look around. Can I get you some coffee or perhaps a glass of Chardonnay?" "Chardonnay would be nice," Bruce smiled. Marie Claude nodded. The Gallery Had Few Pictures in It The gallery was a large space with very few pictures. But Bruce recognized most of the. There was a Rembrandt, a Renoir, two Surat's and a very large saltimbanque by Picasso. Bruce stood before it for a long time. The small gentleman arrived with the wine. "Ah, monsieur, you have good tastes. That is one of Picasso's early works. It will be worth a fortune one day. Would you like to make an offer? It is listed at 17,000 francs." "A mere pittance. That's only $3,000 American," Bruce whispered. Bruce shook his head. "That's a bit rich for my blood." He knew that in truth, it was a steal but that's not why he was in the shop. He accepted the wine and walked around. In one corner he found a table full of posters. They were all reproductions of da Vinci drawings. The small man was still following. "Monsieur Hellstrom has a weakness for Da Vinci. He always offers prints to his customers." "Are there no originals?" "No, I'm afraid not," he smiled. "There are some at the Clos Luce." "Yes, I know. I was just there." "Then you must have seen Monsieur Hellstrom. He devotes much of his time to the rebuilding of Clos Luce. He's a large man with a beard." Bruce replied that he saw no such man. "Well, never mind. He's here now." They all looked towards the door, a large bearded man with twinkling eyes came in carrying a heavy box. He was dressed in workman's clothing and wore large round glasses. Nobody would have guessed that this man was a millionaire expert on the work of Da Vinci. But looks are deceiving. As a matter of fact Bruce thought that he had seen the same man working at one end of the grounds at Clos Luce. The little man called out, "Ah Monsieur Hellestrom, you have visitors." "...at Your Service" The big man put down his packages, rubbed his hands on his jacket and shook Bruce's hand. "I am Karl Hellstrom, at your service." He pronounced it Hell -strume with that special 'u' that only a Finn could provide. Then he added, "Were you not at the Clos Luce a while ago?" "Yes. We thought you looked familiar too. You were…" "Cleaning," Hellstrom replied. "Someone spilled a box of shavings. I must do all the work myself. It is hard to get help." "But surely, you do not work there." "Yes and no. I offer my services free of charge but I'm there at least three days a week." He nodded to Marie-Claude, "Karl Hellstrom, at your service." His clothes were worn and his hands rough but his manners were excellent." "Enchante, Monsieur. I am Mar…" "Excuse me, Mademoiselle, but I know who you are. I was at a luncheon a while ago at your chateau. We didn't officially meet but I cannot forget such a lovely lady. You are the Countess d'Autefort. I know your brother. It had to do with horses." Marie-Claude was surprised. She didn't remember the gentleman. "I think 'Marie-Claude' would suffice." Bruce Extends His Hand Bruce extended his hand. "And I am Bruce Kellner, a friend of the Comptesse. You are interested in Da Vinci, I see." "Yes. I am interested in Art. But there is something special here in Amboise mainly because the ghost of Leonardo is everywhere. His remains are here, you know this is where he was put to rest." "Yes, we know," replied Marie-Claude. "It is Da Vinci that brought us here." Bruce handed Hellstrom his card. "I am investigating the disappearance of a small drawing done by the master. I was given your name by someone in Barcelona. I was told that you know a great deal about such drawings. I was hoping I could ask you a few questions in a professional capacity." "Certainly," the big man smiled. "Perhaps you can give me an hour to wash up and change. Or, better still, may I invite you to my humble home tonight. We can have dinner and discuss Leonardo, my favorite topic. Perhaps I'll be able to help you. I had a wonderful dinner at Hautefort. I'd like to repay your hospitality." Click here for Chapter 33.