to run down the cobbled path, feet pounding across the small bridge, and
then cut across the lawn to the parking lot where the bored valets were listening to a boom box.
In the distance I could see a chubby woman in fuchsia trotting along behind a dog pulling vigorously
at its leash. As I drew closer, I realized that the dog was actually my friend the ocelot. I gave them wide berth as I headed for the valet parking.
~ * ~
“I knew you would manage it, James.” Mr. Stephanopoulos was jubilant when I called him on my
break later that afternoon.
“The book is authentic,” I said. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
“Coming from you that is truly praise.”
That was true. But then I’d never been so staunchly on the side of the seller versus buyer before.
“He knows what he’s got, though,” I warned Mr. S. “There’s no way he’ll consider less than two
million.”
“T-t-two million?” Mr. S. repeated faintly.
“He’s been talking to Evan Amherst among others. I think Evan may have his own buyer in mind.”
That worked exactly as I’d thought it would. Mr. S. was nothing if not competitive. He began
speculating on his possible rivals for the book, while disparaging each man and woman’s brains, taste and lineage. He finished up with, “But you’re sure the book is everything you say it is?”
“And more. If I had a reputation left, I’d stake it on this one.”
He laughed. Then he said anxiously, “And you were careful not to let Professor Crisparkle know you
were acting on my behalf?”
58
www.samhainpublishing.com
The Dickens with Love
“I was careful. What exactly is the situation there?”
“English pigheadedness.”
“It sounded more serious than that.”
“You don’t know the English.” He added silkily, “In any case, I don’t pay you to stick your nose into
things that don’t concern you. It’s enough that I tell you what I need done.”
I opened my mouth. The words trembled on the tip of my tongue. I swallowed them. Beggars can’t be
choosers. And the fact was that I was taking Stephanopoulos for an extra half million. Taking it for
Sedgwick, true, but that made it all the sweeter. And my commission on two million would go a long way to soothing my injured feelings.
“Very true,” I said coolly. “Then shall I go ahead and broker the deal?”
“I would like you to get it for less than two million if possible.”
“It’s not possible. I’ve already told you.”
Silence.
“Whose side are you on in this transaction, James?” Mr. S. sounded mildly amused. I wasn’t
deceived.
“I’ve already told you Crisparkle knows what he’s got. He’s open to the idea of a preemptive bid,
which means Amherst may get in there first. Or another dealer. I’m not going to waste time haggling with this guy. If you want to try your hand at horse trading, feel free.”
“This is the old James talking,” he said slowly. “Something has happened.”
“Nothing has happened—beyond the discovery of this quite unique book.”
“Yes, but I think something has happened.” Mr. S. was thoughtful. “I don’t quite trust you, James.
There is a certain note in your voice. It’s most annoying.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what you—”
“But that’s it. You’re not sorry. You’re…confident. You haven’t been confident in a long time. I
wonder why you’re so confident now?”
I was starting to hate Stephanopoulos with an intensity that surprised even me. Still, it would be a
very bad idea to give into that dislike.
I said as calmly as I could, “I’m confident because this book is the real deal, the find of the decade.
And, frankly, I believe you’re paying me top dollar for more than my diplomacy skills. Which, I’ll be the first to admit, are not strong.”
His silence grew more unpleasant in quality.
He said at last, very mildly, “You are the expert, James. I’ll be guided by you. I know you are well
aware how
then cut across the lawn to the parking lot where the bored valets were listening to a boom box.
In the distance I could see a chubby woman in fuchsia trotting along behind a dog pulling vigorously
at its leash. As I drew closer, I realized that the dog was actually my friend the ocelot. I gave them wide berth as I headed for the valet parking.
~ * ~
“I knew you would manage it, James.” Mr. Stephanopoulos was jubilant when I called him on my
break later that afternoon.
“The book is authentic,” I said. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
“Coming from you that is truly praise.”
That was true. But then I’d never been so staunchly on the side of the seller versus buyer before.
“He knows what he’s got, though,” I warned Mr. S. “There’s no way he’ll consider less than two
million.”
“T-t-two million?” Mr. S. repeated faintly.
“He’s been talking to Evan Amherst among others. I think Evan may have his own buyer in mind.”
That worked exactly as I’d thought it would. Mr. S. was nothing if not competitive. He began
speculating on his possible rivals for the book, while disparaging each man and woman’s brains, taste and lineage. He finished up with, “But you’re sure the book is everything you say it is?”
“And more. If I had a reputation left, I’d stake it on this one.”
He laughed. Then he said anxiously, “And you were careful not to let Professor Crisparkle know you
were acting on my behalf?”
58
www.samhainpublishing.com
The Dickens with Love
“I was careful. What exactly is the situation there?”
“English pigheadedness.”
“It sounded more serious than that.”
“You don’t know the English.” He added silkily, “In any case, I don’t pay you to stick your nose into
things that don’t concern you. It’s enough that I tell you what I need done.”
I opened my mouth. The words trembled on the tip of my tongue. I swallowed them. Beggars can’t be
choosers. And the fact was that I was taking Stephanopoulos for an extra half million. Taking it for
Sedgwick, true, but that made it all the sweeter. And my commission on two million would go a long way to soothing my injured feelings.
“Very true,” I said coolly. “Then shall I go ahead and broker the deal?”
“I would like you to get it for less than two million if possible.”
“It’s not possible. I’ve already told you.”
Silence.
“Whose side are you on in this transaction, James?” Mr. S. sounded mildly amused. I wasn’t
deceived.
“I’ve already told you Crisparkle knows what he’s got. He’s open to the idea of a preemptive bid,
which means Amherst may get in there first. Or another dealer. I’m not going to waste time haggling with this guy. If you want to try your hand at horse trading, feel free.”
“This is the old James talking,” he said slowly. “Something has happened.”
“Nothing has happened—beyond the discovery of this quite unique book.”
“Yes, but I think something has happened.” Mr. S. was thoughtful. “I don’t quite trust you, James.
There is a certain note in your voice. It’s most annoying.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what you—”
“But that’s it. You’re not sorry. You’re…confident. You haven’t been confident in a long time. I
wonder why you’re so confident now?”
I was starting to hate Stephanopoulos with an intensity that surprised even me. Still, it would be a
very bad idea to give into that dislike.
I said as calmly as I could, “I’m confident because this book is the real deal, the find of the decade.
And, frankly, I believe you’re paying me top dollar for more than my diplomacy skills. Which, I’ll be the first to admit, are not strong.”
His silence grew more unpleasant in quality.
He said at last, very mildly, “You are the expert, James. I’ll be guided by you. I know you are well
aware how
Similar Books
