Manof Chpt34

Chapter 34

They ate in a dining room surrounded by expensive antiques. On one wall there was a shelf with eight gold colored samovars.

"I brought those from Finland when I came here. They are hardly Finnish but they do remind me of home. Actually, they're Russian. I never liked the Russians but I liked their samovars. We had an expression in Finland. "A Russian is a Russian even if you fry him in butter."

He laughed boisterously at his own remark.Then he brought one to the table.

"The Cossacks used to make hot water for tea in these beautiful things. The army never traveled without them. Here, let me show you how they work." He took off his boot and turned it upside down. "In the outer chamber you put water. In the inner chamber you put chips of wood. It is lit through the tiny holes at the bottom. Then you invert your boot, place it on top and pump up the air. The wood burns and heats the water. You pour the water from the spigot and add tea leaves. Then, voila! You have hot tea."

"Do you still use them?" Marie Claude was curious since they shone so.

"No. Unfortunately I keep them only as a souvenir. It takes a day just to polish one. It's not economical."

"Do you miss Finland?" Bruce asked.

"No. That was a long time ago. Finland is not the same since the war. Now I live in France, near Da Vinci and I am content."

"The antiques are all French. I love the look and feel of the wood. Actually, I love wood. I even have a workshop where I repair and make some pieces. I have done that all my life."

Soon the conversation turned to art. Marie-Claude let Bruce explain.

"I was told," he started " that you know a great deal about who is who in the region when it comes to art and that you know a great deal about Da Vinci's sketches."

"That is true, but I am not academically trained in art. Da Vinci is an obsession. The pictures I sell are a business."

Bruce looked up. "Are they all authentic?"

Hellstrom roared with laughter. "Naturally. And if they were not, do you think I would admit it. That's bad for business."

"Honest business," Bruce said. Then, thinking it better not to insult his host, he added. "I've been investigating art for many years. There are many fakes for sale."

"Of course. But I assure you Monsieur…"

Bruce paused, puffed on his cigar and said, "Monsieur Hellstrom, I am not accusing you, I am asking you a question I've asked myself for years. How do you know that a piece of art is authentic? Sir, I am asking you to help me. You have a number of very fine paintings in your gallery. How do you know they are the genuine article?"

Karl was wide eyed. "I trust the people I buy from. I check documentation. I have experts sign affidavits."

"But how do you know they are all honest? It takes only one dishonest man in the chain to crack a link. How can you be sure?"

Hellstrom relaxed a little. He smiled. "I guess I can't. Maybe someone is swindling me. How do you know that a thousand Franc note is authentic, or a perfume or a statue? We all require trust."

Bruce puffed hard. "I guess that with all my experience in finding missing paintings I have never known for sure how something can be authenticated. Oh, I know there are scientific ways but even the experts disagree. I'm sure there are museums that are aware that one or more of their holdings are not unquestionably authentic."

"Yes, I suppose that is true, and I must add that someone in possession of a questionable painting might still accept payment for it if that payment was high enough. I do have some very expensive paintings in my Gallery. Maybe I should check more closely."

"Ah, but if you now found something that you paid a lot for to be questionable, would you still try to sell it?"

Hellstrom smiled. "Do you want the correct answer or the truth?"

"Neither," Bruce replied as he relit his cigar. "I think I've made my point and I think you asked the right questions." After a pause, he added. "Let's get back to the Da Vinci that is missing from Hautefort. Have you heard anything in the wind about it, where it might be or who might have been interested in it?"

"No. I heard nothing in the wind, as you say. I did not know it was missing and I'll add that I would be more interested in owning such an item than most. But I would not be able to show it to anybody. My pride is too deep for that. I think a man enjoys his collection because it gives him pleasure and he gets pleasure from others who he invites to see it."

"But surely," Marie-Claude interrupted, there are people who buy or steal things or buy them knowing that they were stolen, and keep them to themselves."

"Yes. Perhaps but I know nobody like that. I know nobody who has even hinted to owning your missing drawing. If you like, I can suggest to 'certain people' that I might be interested in purchasing such a work if it was available. You never know who is out there, listening, ready to sell."

The conversation continued. They discussed the slow revival of France after the war and the cost of Art. But Bruce knew one thing. The cost of great art always goes up. What is worth one price today can double in a few years.

People like Picasso were selling works for small fortunes that would fetch large fortunes in a few years. The Da Vinci was already very old. It was not one of his major works but anything from his hand could be worth a great sum.

As they left, Hellstrom gave each of them a small gift. They agreed to keep in touch. All in all it had been a pleasant evening.

When they returned to their residence they each opened their present. Bruce had been given a wooden humidor with 25 Montecristo # 4's. Marie-Claude was non-plussed by a framed drawing of a dove of peace. It was signed by the artist.


	Chapter 34 They ate in a dining room surrounded by expensive antiques. On one wall there was a shelf with eight gold colored samovars. "I brought those from Finland when I came here. They are hardly Finnish but they do remind me of home. Actually, they're Russian. I never liked the Russians but I liked their samovars. We had an expression in Finland. "A Russian is a Russian even if you fry him in butter." He laughed boisterously at his own remark.Then he brought one to the table. "The Cossacks used to make hot water for tea in these beautiful things. The army never traveled without them. Here, let me show you how they work." He took off his boot and turned it upside down. "In the outer chamber you put water. In the inner chamber you put chips of wood. It is lit through the tiny holes at the bottom. Then you invert your boot, place it on top and pump up the air. The wood burns and heats the water. You pour the water from the spigot and add tea leaves. Then, voila! You have hot tea." "Do you still use them?" Marie Claude was curious since they shone so. "No. Unfortunately I keep them only as a souvenir. It takes a day just to polish one. It's not economical." "Do you miss Finland?" Bruce asked. "No. That was a long time ago. Finland is not the same since the war. Now I live in France, near Da Vinci and I am content." "The antiques are all French. I love the look and feel of the wood. Actually, I love wood. I even have a workshop where I repair and make some pieces. I have done that all my life." Soon the conversation turned to art. Marie-Claude let Bruce explain. "I was told," he started " that you know a great deal about who is who in the region when it comes to art and that you know a great deal about Da Vinci's sketches." "That is true, but I am not academically trained in art. Da Vinci is an obsession. The pictures I sell are a business." Bruce looked up. "Are they all authentic?" Hellstrom roared with laughter. "Naturally. And if they were not, do you think I would admit it. That's bad for business." "Honest business," Bruce said. Then, thinking it better not to insult his host, he added. "I've been investigating art for many years. There are many fakes for sale." "Of course. But I assure you Monsieur…" Bruce paused, puffed on his cigar and said, "Monsieur Hellstrom, I am not accusing you, I am asking you a question I've asked myself for years. How do you know that a piece of art is authentic? Sir, I am asking you to help me. You have a number of very fine paintings in your gallery. How do you know they are the genuine article?" Karl was wide eyed. "I trust the people I buy from. I check documentation. I have experts sign affidavits." "But how do you know they are all honest? It takes only one dishonest man in the chain to crack a link. How can you be sure?" Hellstrom relaxed a little. He smiled. "I guess I can't. Maybe someone is swindling me. How do you know that a thousand Franc note is authentic, or a perfume or a statue? We all require trust." Bruce puffed hard. "I guess that with all my experience in finding missing paintings I have never known for sure how something can be authenticated. Oh, I know there are scientific ways but even the experts disagree. I'm sure there are museums that are aware that one or more of their holdings are not unquestionably authentic." "Yes, I suppose that is true, and I must add that someone in possession of a questionable painting might still accept payment for it if that payment was high enough. I do have some very expensive paintings in my Gallery. Maybe I should check more closely." "Ah, but if you now found something that you paid a lot for to be questionable, would you still try to sell it?" Hellstrom smiled. "Do you want the correct answer or the truth?" "Neither," Bruce replied as he relit his cigar. "I think I've made my point and I think you asked the right questions." After a pause, he added. "Let's get back to the Da Vinci that is missing from Hautefort. Have you heard anything in the wind about it, where it might be or who might have been interested in it?" "No. I heard nothing in the wind, as you say. I did not know it was missing and I'll add that I would be more interested in owning such an item than most. But I would not be able to show it to anybody. My pride is too deep for that. I think a man enjoys his collection because it gives him pleasure and he gets pleasure from others who he invites to see it." "But surely," Marie-Claude interrupted, there are people who buy or steal things or buy them knowing that they were stolen, and keep them to themselves." "Yes. Perhaps but I know nobody like that. I know nobody who has even hinted to owning your missing drawing. If you like, I can suggest to 'certain people' that I might be interested in purchasing such a work if it was available. You never know who is out there, listening, ready to sell." The conversation continued. They discussed the slow revival of France after the war and the cost of Art. But Bruce knew one thing. The cost of great art always goes up. What is worth one price today can double in a few years. People like Picasso were selling works for small fortunes that would fetch large fortunes in a few years. The Da Vinci was already very old. It was not one of his major works but anything from his hand could be worth a great sum. As they left, Hellstrom gave each of them a small gift. They agreed to keep in touch. All in all it had been a pleasant evening. When they returned to their residence they each opened their present. Bruce had been given a wooden humidor with 25 Montecristo # 4's. Marie-Claude was non-plussed by a framed drawing of a dove of peace. It was signed by the artist.