objects. To this point Jean had been rather detached and, actually a bit aloof. Now, she dropped her guard, smiled and said, “You mentioned that Dr. Rousseau showed you a picture of the ambry where the Royal Patents were stored. Did he tell you that the ambry was ransacked sometime before the revolution?”
Jim and Eve did not see the significance. “No” said Jim, “but how is that relevant to authenticating this Patent?”
Jean eyed him closely, then continued, “It is extremely relevant, especially in light of what you may have here. You see, finding this specific Patent is more incredible than you may realize.”
“How so?” asked Eve.
“It’s a bit of a story. If I jump around please stop me and ask questions. You see, one cause of the French Revolution was the American Revolution!
“Oh, I’ve never heard that before,” Eve exclaimed.
“Well, it seems that Mister Benjamin Franklin skillfully manipulated the French into siding with the Colonialists. It eventually cost France millions and millions of Francs. Add a few poor harvests in a row and the French people ended up broke, hungry and ripe for their own revolution,” Jean said.
She leaned forward in her chair, her elbows on her desk and eyes intense. “Just a year after the Revolution France was struggling for its very life. The country was fighting a war on two sides and getting itself deeper and deeper in debt. One method of addressing the debt problem was to liquidate the treasures of the nobles and the church. To do that the new revolutionary government set up several ‘committees’. These committees were to recover what they termed ‘the people’s treasures.’ In truth, these committees simply ransacked the royal palaces and the holdings of the holy Catholic church.”
Jean stood, returned to the file cabinet and, after a moment returned with several file folders. She began to spread several photos and photocopies across the top of the desk.
“These documents discuss this plundering of art works and other valuables from the nobles and churches,” she said.
She continued to spread the papers in front of Jim and Eve. “The committee responsible was called ‘the Committee for Restoration of Public Treasures’. The thefts or collections, depending upon your view, were confirmed by statements from two members of this Committee, given in trials for various crimes or affronts. Their testimony is found in trial records of the day.” She began to point to various documents spread across the desk.
Jean checked her watch. “I’m going to have to run along to a meeting in a moment. But, these committee members also published their testimony in revolutionary newspapers, and they recorded very similar statements in their private diaries; so we place great credence in their truth. The records speak directly of the ransacking of the ambry that held this very Patent. They mention removal of King Louis XVI’s crown and the Queen’s jewels.”
Again checking her watch she said, “Now, I must go, but let me give you this book and let’s say we meet again tomorrow at…” She checked her desk calendar and said “…tomorrow will be difficult. Could we get together for dinner tonight instead?” Jim and Eve were delighted to accept the invitation and arrangements were soon made to meet that evening at a new restaurant on Côte de la Place d’Armes which had opened just the past month. Jean then escorted them to the office door, “Tonight then, 8 O’clock?”
II
Jim and Eve spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Montreal and shopping in the downtown area. Then they returned to their hotel, showered, changed and headed to the restaurant.
“Eve, I’ve got to admit I’m learning more about the French Revolution than I ever wanted to know,” Jim complained as they walked to the restaurant.
“I thought you were the history buff?” she
Jim and Eve did not see the significance. “No” said Jim, “but how is that relevant to authenticating this Patent?”
Jean eyed him closely, then continued, “It is extremely relevant, especially in light of what you may have here. You see, finding this specific Patent is more incredible than you may realize.”
“How so?” asked Eve.
“It’s a bit of a story. If I jump around please stop me and ask questions. You see, one cause of the French Revolution was the American Revolution!
“Oh, I’ve never heard that before,” Eve exclaimed.
“Well, it seems that Mister Benjamin Franklin skillfully manipulated the French into siding with the Colonialists. It eventually cost France millions and millions of Francs. Add a few poor harvests in a row and the French people ended up broke, hungry and ripe for their own revolution,” Jean said.
She leaned forward in her chair, her elbows on her desk and eyes intense. “Just a year after the Revolution France was struggling for its very life. The country was fighting a war on two sides and getting itself deeper and deeper in debt. One method of addressing the debt problem was to liquidate the treasures of the nobles and the church. To do that the new revolutionary government set up several ‘committees’. These committees were to recover what they termed ‘the people’s treasures.’ In truth, these committees simply ransacked the royal palaces and the holdings of the holy Catholic church.”
Jean stood, returned to the file cabinet and, after a moment returned with several file folders. She began to spread several photos and photocopies across the top of the desk.
“These documents discuss this plundering of art works and other valuables from the nobles and churches,” she said.
She continued to spread the papers in front of Jim and Eve. “The committee responsible was called ‘the Committee for Restoration of Public Treasures’. The thefts or collections, depending upon your view, were confirmed by statements from two members of this Committee, given in trials for various crimes or affronts. Their testimony is found in trial records of the day.” She began to point to various documents spread across the desk.
Jean checked her watch. “I’m going to have to run along to a meeting in a moment. But, these committee members also published their testimony in revolutionary newspapers, and they recorded very similar statements in their private diaries; so we place great credence in their truth. The records speak directly of the ransacking of the ambry that held this very Patent. They mention removal of King Louis XVI’s crown and the Queen’s jewels.”
Again checking her watch she said, “Now, I must go, but let me give you this book and let’s say we meet again tomorrow at…” She checked her desk calendar and said “…tomorrow will be difficult. Could we get together for dinner tonight instead?” Jim and Eve were delighted to accept the invitation and arrangements were soon made to meet that evening at a new restaurant on Côte de la Place d’Armes which had opened just the past month. Jean then escorted them to the office door, “Tonight then, 8 O’clock?”
II
Jim and Eve spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Montreal and shopping in the downtown area. Then they returned to their hotel, showered, changed and headed to the restaurant.
“Eve, I’ve got to admit I’m learning more about the French Revolution than I ever wanted to know,” Jim complained as they walked to the restaurant.
“I thought you were the history buff?” she
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