Manof Chpt 67

Chapter 67

Drollet paid for their drinks and they walked back to the car.
"Where will you go from here?" he asked.

"I'm not sure yet. Once I'm in Lascaux I want to visit the site and I'd like to see Rocamadour."

"That's a good choice. It's a wonderful place to touch local history. Maybe when you go, I'll go with you. I haven't been there for a while. Will you return to America after that?"

"Yes, probably. I asked my secretary to book passage for me on the Aquitania. That gives me about two weeks to do what I was doing when I first met the Comtesse."

"And what was that?'

"I was trying to enjoy a holiday. France is the best place to do that, under normal conditions. I especially like the south. I always have. But having visited the Dordogne and the Perigord, I now have choices. Besides, I'd like to stay in touch with the Hautefort family. They are special people."

Difficult Times...

"But things happen. These are difficult times." Drollet spoke from experience.

They drove back to Perigueux in relative silence. Bruce felt the weight of what he just saw and was emotionally drained. There would be years of searching for the owners of the art work that Drollet had discovered. Hundreds of paintings would find their way back to their rightful owners, others would not, all because some greedy people wanted to sell a sketch that they thought was authentic. Such was the legacy of greed.

Bruce added, "What I have seen is people who have money don't know what to do with it. There's so much made "under the table' as they say. These people can't just spend it so they put it into stolen art and obtain great joy by just being able to look at it."

"There have even been cases of wealthy collectors who arrange for art to be stolen so their egos can be fed," Drollet observed. "But one day, their pride will get the best of them. They will show what they have to the wrong people. We'll track them down, even if it takes years. We have a special department in France just for recovering stolen art."

A Question about the Museums

"And what about the museums?" Bruce asked. "We know that the museums have been storing art sent to them during the war for safe keeping. Will they be returned to the rightful owners some day?"

"I certainly hope so." was the reply. "But that is beyond my realm."

In Perigueux the two men shook hands.
"You are a good man Det. Drollet. I wish there were more
like you. Perhaps we can one day see the best art in Europe because of men like you."

Drollet, half smiled. "And you, my friend, it is easy to see, will know what is the best as you are truly a man of taste. Maybe we will meet again one day.

Au revoir."

(Click here for Chapter 68)


	Chapter 67 Drollet paid for their drinks and they walked back to the car. "Where will you go from here?" he asked. "I'm not sure yet. Once I'm in Lascaux I want to visit the site and I'd like to see Rocamadour." "That's a good choice. It's a wonderful place to touch local history. Maybe when you go, I'll go with you. I haven't been there for a while. Will you return to America after that?" "Yes, probably. I asked my secretary to book passage for me on the Aquitania. That gives me about two weeks to do what I was doing when I first met the Comtesse." "And what was that?' "I was trying to enjoy a holiday. France is the best place to do that, under normal conditions. I especially like the south. I always have. But having visited the Dordogne and the Perigord, I now have choices. Besides, I'd like to stay in touch with the Hautefort family. They are special people." Difficult Times... "But things happen. These are difficult times." Drollet spoke from experience. They drove back to Perigueux in relative silence. Bruce felt the weight of what he just saw and was emotionally drained. There would be years of searching for the owners of the art work that Drollet had discovered. Hundreds of paintings would find their way back to their rightful owners, others would not, all because some greedy people wanted to sell a sketch that they thought was authentic. Such was the legacy of greed. Bruce added, "What I have seen is people who have money don't know what to do with it. There's so much made "under the table' as they say. These people can't just spend it so they put it into stolen art and obtain great joy by just being able to look at it." "There have even been cases of wealthy collectors who arrange for art to be stolen so their egos can be fed," Drollet observed. "But one day, their pride will get the best of them. They will show what they have to the wrong people. We'll track them down, even if it takes years. We have a special department in France just for recovering stolen art." A Question about the Museums "And what about the museums?" Bruce asked. "We know that the museums have been storing art sent to them during the war for safe keeping. Will they be returned to the rightful owners some day?" "I certainly hope so." was the reply. "But that is beyond my realm." In Perigueux the two men shook hands. "You are a good man Det. Drollet. I wish there were more like you. Perhaps we can one day see the best art in Europe because of men like you." Drollet, half smiled. "And you, my friend, it is easy to see, will know what is the best as you are truly a man of taste. Maybe we will meet again one day. Au revoir." (Click here for Chapter 68)