Manof Chpt37

Chapter 37

They had nothing on their hands but time. Marie Claude reassumed her position as guide and began to explain to Bruce why the Blois Chateau was so important.

They passed the side entrance with the statue of Louis XIII set as the centerpiece of the entrance archway. Once inside, they approached the nave of the St Calais chapel to the left of the main square. Marie Claude explained that only the nave remained when the 17th century Gaston d'Orleans wing was erected but Bruce was preoccupied by the ornate staircase on the right.

An Enclosed and Highly-Decorated Tour de Force

It was an enclosed and highly-decorated Renaissance tour de force. From these open balconies the royal family could watch jousts and parades that were held below. The feudal walls dated back to the 9th century. In 1391 the fortress passed to Louis d'Orleans, brother of Charles VI. That explained the existence of the symbolic Porcupine and crown, the emblem of the House of Orleans.

Bruce was beginning to know the symbolic differences he observed in each chateau. This was the largest but there was still a great amount of repairs that had to be done. It might take years to complete.

Inside, the rooms were somber and many were still closed for post war alterations... Marie explained that the Chateau had been the scene of much intrigue and it was here that on an order by Henry III, the ambitious Duke de Guise, leader of a league of Catholics, met his end.

He was stabbed in the king's own bedroom. From that time on, the chateau lost its political importance. She explained that when it was all redone and concerts returned to the inner courtyard, interest would resume. Bruce turned back to look at the Francois I staircase.

"I've never seen such a beautiful design."

Marie Claude smiled. "If you thank that's unique, wait until you see the one at Chambord. It was designed by Leonardo da Vinci, or so they say. But it had other purposes."

Out on the street they walked down the commercial rue Porte Cote. People were bustling to and fro carrying shopping baskets. At Place St Louis they entered the Quartier Vieux Blois.

"This is where my father's friend lives. I'd like you to meet him."

They Enter a 16th-Century Building

They entered a 16th-century building. It was a galleried town house at the top of rue Pierre de Blots. A matronly old lady answered the door with a frown on her face. As soon as she recognized Marie Claude, her eyes lit up and she seemed to stand taller. She gave a half curtsy.

"Mademoiselle, La Contesse. This is a very pleasant surprise. Please come in."

"Bonjour Madame," I'd like you to meet a friend from the United States. This is Madane Duclos. Madame, je vous presente Monsieur Kellner."

The old lady curtsied again. Bruce was embarrassed.
They were shown into a large wood paneled living room. Seated with his back to the room was an old man wrapped in a blanket. Marie Claude approached him. He looked over the top of his glasses as Marie Claude knelt before him.

"Cher Monsieur, Benoit. It is me; Marie Claude."

The man's eyes grew wide. He dropped his book and took her hand. He patted it with his other hand then he lifted and kissed it.

"I felt when I awoke this morning that something good would happen. I am so pleased to see you. It's been too long. I thought you had forgotten an old man."

"Old Man! You will never be an old man. You have the youngest spirit I know."

Mister Benoit put his arms around Marie Claude and patted her back. When they separated, Bruce noticed that the man had tears in his eyes. Marie Claude introduced Bruce and they were invited to sit down close to their host.

"Madame Duclos," he called. "Some tea for our guests.'

They Sit for Over an Hour, Sipping Tea

They sat for over an hour, sipping tea and chatting about the family, the chateau and the reason for Bruce's visit. Bruce explained how he was going about the investigation and Monsieur Benoit made a few observations.

"First of all, I am dismayed about the incident today with the car. When one begins to put pressure on someone who may be racked with guilt, anything can happen." The accident, he suggested should not be dismissed and the incident not forgotten. He voiced the opinion that if it was not an accident, Bruce might look at the people who knew why he was in France.

"They may fear that you will discover their deed. Be careful my friend."

As for the old art conaisseur in Brantome, he knew of him and suggested he was capable of almost anything. As for Karl Hellstrom he asked about his background and suggested that if he had been involved with buying and selling art among the German officers, he might do anything.

He knew a great deal about Marie Claude's ex husband and dismissed the fact that he knew anything or would do anything to hurt the Autefort family. He did not know Marina Alvarez but suggested that her connection with Hellstrom was suspect. Did she not trust him out of jealousy or for good reason.

Why did she suggest that Hellstrom be considered someone who might steal a priceless work of art.

Then he turned to Marie Claude. "My dear, I know that little drawing very well. Your father and I discussed it many times. It always bothered me that it was attributed to da Vinci over the years and accepted by all the generations since the 16th century. But there was no provenance, no signature and no proof. All that was ever proven is that it was very old and sentimental to the family."

Bruce interrupted. "But, if it was that old, it still had a certain value. It is true that none of the facts can be proven outright, but most people agreed that da Vinci may have stayed at Hautefort. They deduced that the master might offer his host a souvenir of his stay there. He added that some of the da Vinci drawings had the same quality and the same parchment of that period. Then he added that if it was that old it had value and if people wanted to believe that the master had done it then the value assessed would be correct."

A Very "Astute" Friend

Mr. Benoit turned to Marie Claude. "Your friend is very astute. You will get to the bottom of this fiasco since the man you have chosen to investigate for you, is the right man." He turned to Bruce. "On behalf of my departed friend, Marie Claude's father, I want to thank you as he would for your help."

Then he turned to Marie Claude and changed the subject. "Now, my dear, tell me about the horses." They discussed the stable at Hautefort for quite some time. Later Marie Claude explained that it was monsieur Benoit who had taught her to ride. He himself had been an exceptional horseman in his younger days.

During lunch on a barge restaurant in the river, Marie Claude and Bruce discussed the accident. They went over it again but nothing new emerged. As for monsieur's word of caution Bruce said he'd wait and see what happened before he pointed a finger or dismissed anyone.

"Besides," he smiled, eating in this wonderful setting on a barge and tasting the local wines and fresh caught fish was an experience to be remembered." In his notebook he inscribed," La Peniche, Promenade du Mail, Blois."

It was almost three in the afternoon before they returned to the garage. There was little if any damage and the only thing the mechanic could tell them was that there were tiny paint chips on the car and it looked merely like an accident.

"What color were the chips?" Bruce asked.

"Black", of course like most cars," he answered.

They were back on the road but as to the mystery, they were no farther ahead.

(Click here for the next chapter)


	Chapter 37 They had nothing on their hands but time. Marie Claude reassumed her position as guide and began to explain to Bruce why the Blois Chateau was so important. They passed the side entrance with the statue of Louis XIII set as the centerpiece of the entrance archway. Once inside, they approached the nave of the St Calais chapel to the left of the main square. Marie Claude explained that only the nave remained when the 17th century Gaston d'Orleans wing was erected but Bruce was preoccupied by the ornate staircase on the right. An Enclosed and Highly-Decorated Tour de Force It was an enclosed and highly-decorated Renaissance tour de force. From these open balconies the royal family could watch jousts and parades that were held below. The feudal walls dated back to the 9th century. In 1391 the fortress passed to Louis d'Orleans, brother of Charles VI. That explained the existence of the symbolic Porcupine and crown, the emblem of the House of Orleans. Bruce was beginning to know the symbolic differences he observed in each chateau. This was the largest but there was still a great amount of repairs that had to be done. It might take years to complete. Inside, the rooms were somber and many were still closed for post war alterations... Marie explained that the Chateau had been the scene of much intrigue and it was here that on an order by Henry III, the ambitious Duke de Guise, leader of a league of Catholics, met his end. He was stabbed in the king's own bedroom. From that time on, the chateau lost its political importance. She explained that when it was all redone and concerts returned to the inner courtyard, interest would resume. Bruce turned back to look at the Francois I staircase. "I've never seen such a beautiful design." Marie Claude smiled. "If you thank that's unique, wait until you see the one at Chambord. It was designed by Leonardo da Vinci, or so they say. But it had other purposes." Out on the street they walked down the commercial rue Porte Cote. People were bustling to and fro carrying shopping baskets. At Place St Louis they entered the Quartier Vieux Blois. "This is where my father's friend lives. I'd like you to meet him." They Enter a 16th-Century Building They entered a 16th-century building. It was a galleried town house at the top of rue Pierre de Blots. A matronly old lady answered the door with a frown on her face. As soon as she recognized Marie Claude, her eyes lit up and she seemed to stand taller. She gave a half curtsy. "Mademoiselle, La Contesse. This is a very pleasant surprise. Please come in." "Bonjour Madame," I'd like you to meet a friend from the United States. This is Madane Duclos. Madame, je vous presente Monsieur Kellner." The old lady curtsied again. Bruce was embarrassed. They were shown into a large wood paneled living room. Seated with his back to the room was an old man wrapped in a blanket. Marie Claude approached him. He looked over the top of his glasses as Marie Claude knelt before him. "Cher Monsieur, Benoit. It is me; Marie Claude." The man's eyes grew wide. He dropped his book and took her hand. He patted it with his other hand then he lifted and kissed it. "I felt when I awoke this morning that something good would happen. I am so pleased to see you. It's been too long. I thought you had forgotten an old man." "Old Man! You will never be an old man. You have the youngest spirit I know." Mister Benoit put his arms around Marie Claude and patted her back. When they separated, Bruce noticed that the man had tears in his eyes. Marie Claude introduced Bruce and they were invited to sit down close to their host. "Madame Duclos," he called. "Some tea for our guests.' They Sit for Over an Hour, Sipping Tea They sat for over an hour, sipping tea and chatting about the family, the chateau and the reason for Bruce's visit. Bruce explained how he was going about the investigation and Monsieur Benoit made a few observations. "First of all, I am dismayed about the incident today with the car. When one begins to put pressure on someone who may be racked with guilt, anything can happen." The accident, he suggested should not be dismissed and the incident not forgotten. He voiced the opinion that if it was not an accident, Bruce might look at the people who knew why he was in France. "They may fear that you will discover their deed. Be careful my friend." As for the old art conaisseur in Brantome, he knew of him and suggested he was capable of almost anything. As for Karl Hellstrom he asked about his background and suggested that if he had been involved with buying and selling art among the German officers, he might do anything. He knew a great deal about Marie Claude's ex husband and dismissed the fact that he knew anything or would do anything to hurt the Autefort family. He did not know Marina Alvarez but suggested that her connection with Hellstrom was suspect. Did she not trust him out of jealousy or for good reason. Why did she suggest that Hellstrom be considered someone who might steal a priceless work of art. Then he turned to Marie Claude. "My dear, I know that little drawing very well. Your father and I discussed it many times. It always bothered me that it was attributed to da Vinci over the years and accepted by all the generations since the 16th century. But there was no provenance, no signature and no proof. All that was ever proven is that it was very old and sentimental to the family." Bruce interrupted. "But, if it was that old, it still had a certain value. It is true that none of the facts can be proven outright, but most people agreed that da Vinci may have stayed at Hautefort. They deduced that the master might offer his host a souvenir of his stay there. He added that some of the da Vinci drawings had the same quality and the same parchment of that period. Then he added that if it was that old it had value and if people wanted to believe that the master had done it then the value assessed would be correct." A Very "Astute" Friend Mr. Benoit turned to Marie Claude. "Your friend is very astute. You will get to the bottom of this fiasco since the man you have chosen to investigate for you, is the right man." He turned to Bruce. "On behalf of my departed friend, Marie Claude's father, I want to thank you as he would for your help." Then he turned to Marie Claude and changed the subject. "Now, my dear, tell me about the horses." They discussed the stable at Hautefort for quite some time. Later Marie Claude explained that it was monsieur Benoit who had taught her to ride. He himself had been an exceptional horseman in his younger days. During lunch on a barge restaurant in the river, Marie Claude and Bruce discussed the accident. They went over it again but nothing new emerged. As for monsieur's word of caution Bruce said he'd wait and see what happened before he pointed a finger or dismissed anyone. "Besides," he smiled, eating in this wonderful setting on a barge and tasting the local wines and fresh caught fish was an experience to be remembered." In his notebook he inscribed," La Peniche, Promenade du Mail, Blois." It was almost three in the afternoon before they returned to the garage. There was little if any damage and the only thing the mechanic could tell them was that there were tiny paint chips on the car and it looked merely like an accident. "What color were the chips?" Bruce asked. "Black", of course like most cars," he answered. They were back on the road but as to the mystery, they were no farther ahead. (Click here for the next chapter)