Manof Chpt 58

Chapter 58

(A scene from Sarlat, above)

Bruce and Drollet left for Brantome at 7:30 the next morning. Before 9 am they were parked at the hospital and ready to talk to Dr. Biot.

"How are you, my friend," asked Bruce.

"Better, but still ailing," Biot said. He had been asleep and was adjusting to the light.

"I was here yesterday, with Marie-Claude, but you fell asleep. By the way, this is Detective Drollet. He's from Montignac. He's helping us with the problem about the missing Da Vinci drawing."

Biot's Face Becomes Red

Biot began to perspire and his face became red. "I should never have agreed to get involved with that picture."

"But I only asked you to help. You are hardly involved."

"I know but people have been interested in that drawing for a long time. My position was that it was not necessarily authentic. Maybe it was old but I feel it was not that old and might not have been done by the master."

"Well," Bruce began, "it's not really your problem. We're still looking for it and you can help us authenticate it if and when we find it and when you're stronger."

Drollet finally asked, "Can you tell us about the attack on your life the other day?"

"What do you want to know? I told the officer from Brantome all I know."

"The assailant; was he alone?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe."

"Could you identify him?"

Even Drollet realized that the question made him more nervous."

"No, I never saw him before."

"But you saw him this time."

"Yes, but he wore glasses and a hat."

"If I showed you some photographs, could you identify him?"

"I don't think so. Maybe."

"Was he young, old, fat, short, tall?"

Biot Isn't Sure What to Answer

Biot thought. He wasn't sure what to answer. He wanted to stop the whole façade and tell the detective what he knew but he was afraid.
"He was young and strong," he said. "Young but not a boy and very forceful. He said very little. He asked for money."

"Was he tall and thin? Drollet asked.

Just then Biot started to cough. Bruce became alarmed and called the nurse. She rushed in and began attending to Biot. She gestured for the visitors to leave. They waited in the corridor. The nurse finale emerged.
"I think you should come back another time," she suggested. "Dr. Biot has had a serious head injury."

(Old-stock grape vines in the area of Sarlat, France)

They thanked her and left a message that they would come back another time.On the street, Drollet spoke. He was disappointed. All they learned was that a young man had tried to rob Biot but they learned little else. They returned to Hautefort where Bruce got out and Drollet continued on to Montignac. They promised to stay in touch.

Drollet was good as his word. Bruce received a phone call later that day. Drollet said he had some information that might lead them closer to the da Vinci robbery. He didn't want to say more on the phone but said he had enough evidence to either arrest someone or look more deeply into someone's past. He agreed to stop by the next day, and he would call first. They would talk as Drollet was to be in the area much of the day.

Bruce Doesn't Know What to Make of Drollet's Remark

Bruce didn't know what to make of Drollet's remark, but he told Constantine and Marie Claude what had transpired. They would wait for Drollet's visit.

Later that night, Bruce got a call from the hospital. Dr Biot was asking for him and wanted him to come back. "There is something the Dr wants to talk to you about. He apologizes for this afternoon and asks if you can come alone."

"I will be there the first thing in the morning."

Bruce drove Marie Claude's car. It was seven AM. There was calm as he drove to Brantome. The area was perfect for a simple country life and Bruce thought it might be a good place to retire. There were tiny villages along the way and, of course, Perigueux, the center of the White Perigord and the Isle Valley.

The white limestone and wide valleys brought him over the Auvezere. This was truffle country where the pleasant climate adds to the wonders of the countryside. At Perigueux he turned north. Brantome was close by.

(Click here for Chapter 59)


	Chapter 58 (A scene from Sarlat, above) Bruce and Drollet left for Brantome at 7:30 the next morning. Before 9 am they were parked at the hospital and ready to talk to Dr. Biot. "How are you, my friend," asked Bruce. "Better, but still ailing," Biot said. He had been asleep and was adjusting to the light. "I was here yesterday, with Marie-Claude, but you fell asleep. By the way, this is Detective Drollet. He's from Montignac. He's helping us with the problem about the missing Da Vinci drawing." Biot's Face Becomes Red Biot began to perspire and his face became red. "I should never have agreed to get involved with that picture." "But I only asked you to help. You are hardly involved." "I know but people have been interested in that drawing for a long time. My position was that it was not necessarily authentic. Maybe it was old but I feel it was not that old and might not have been done by the master." "Well," Bruce began, "it's not really your problem. We're still looking for it and you can help us authenticate it if and when we find it and when you're stronger." Drollet finally asked, "Can you tell us about the attack on your life the other day?" "What do you want to know? I told the officer from Brantome all I know." "The assailant; was he alone?" "I'm not sure. Maybe." "Could you identify him?" Even Drollet realized that the question made him more nervous." "No, I never saw him before." "But you saw him this time." "Yes, but he wore glasses and a hat." "If I showed you some photographs, could you identify him?" "I don't think so. Maybe." "Was he young, old, fat, short, tall?" Biot Isn't Sure What to Answer Biot thought. He wasn't sure what to answer. He wanted to stop the whole façade and tell the detective what he knew but he was afraid. "He was young and strong," he said. "Young but not a boy and very forceful. He said very little. He asked for money." "Was he tall and thin? Drollet asked. Just then Biot started to cough. Bruce became alarmed and called the nurse. She rushed in and began attending to Biot. She gestured for the visitors to leave. They waited in the corridor. The nurse finale emerged. "I think you should come back another time," she suggested. "Dr. Biot has had a serious head injury." (Old-stock grape vines in the area of Sarlat, France) They thanked her and left a message that they would come back another time.On the street, Drollet spoke. He was disappointed. All they learned was that a young man had tried to rob Biot but they learned little else. They returned to Hautefort where Bruce got out and Drollet continued on to Montignac. They promised to stay in touch. Drollet was good as his word. Bruce received a phone call later that day. Drollet said he had some information that might lead them closer to the da Vinci robbery. He didn't want to say more on the phone but said he had enough evidence to either arrest someone or look more deeply into someone's past. He agreed to stop by the next day, and he would call first. They would talk as Drollet was to be in the area much of the day. Bruce Doesn't Know What to Make of Drollet's Remark Bruce didn't know what to make of Drollet's remark, but he told Constantine and Marie Claude what had transpired. They would wait for Drollet's visit. Later that night, Bruce got a call from the hospital. Dr Biot was asking for him and wanted him to come back. "There is something the Dr wants to talk to you about. He apologizes for this afternoon and asks if you can come alone." "I will be there the first thing in the morning." Bruce drove Marie Claude's car. It was seven AM. There was calm as he drove to Brantome. The area was perfect for a simple country life and Bruce thought it might be a good place to retire. There were tiny villages along the way and, of course, Perigueux, the center of the White Perigord and the Isle Valley. The white limestone and wide valleys brought him over the Auvezere. This was truffle country where the pleasant climate adds to the wonders of the countryside. At Perigueux he turned north. Brantome was close by. (Click here for Chapter 59)