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"You're an idiot," muttered Da
"What did you say?" asked Hunsacker, the cigar falling out of his mouth.
"Me, not you," said Da
Gene looked even more puzzled. Why would Nick describe his grandfather as Sir Alexander?
"I have to go, Mr. Hunsacker, I apologize. I should never have sold the envelope in the first place."
"I wish I knew what in hell's name you were talking about," said Hunsacker, taking a wallet from an inside pocket. He passed a card across to Da
"And no twenty percent premium either," said Da
"A chip off the older block," said Gene. "Your grand-daddy was a brilliant and resourceful gentleman, unlike your uncle Hugo, as I'm sure you realize."
"Goodbye, Mr. Hunsacker," said Da
Da
Da
Da
"I've waited all my life to hear someone say that," the cabbie responded as he pulled away from the curb.
The taxi in front turned right at the end of the road and made its way toward Hyde Park Corner, through the underpass, along Brompton Road and on to the Westway.
"Looks like they're heading for the airport," said the cabbie. Twenty minutes later he was proved right.
When the two cabs emerged from the Heathrow underpass, Da
He followed them in, and watched as they joined a queue of businessclass passengers. The screen above the check-in desk read BA0732, Geneva, 13:55.
"Idiot," Da
"Can you get me on the 13:55 to Geneva?" he asked, trying not to sound desperate.
"Do you have any luggage, sir?" asked the assistant behind the sales counter.
"None," said Da
She checked her computer. "They haven't closed the gate yet, so you should still be able to make it. Business or economy?"
"Economy," said Da
"Window or aisle?"
"Window."
"That will be £217, sir."
"Thank you," said Da
"May I see your passport please?"
Da
"Yes, sir, your passport."
"Oh, no, I must have left it at home."
"Then I'm afraid you won't be in time to catch the plane, sir."
"Idiot, idiot," said Da
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm so sorry," said Da
Da
Hugo pressed the green button on his mobile just as the loudspeaker a
"He followed you from Sotheby's to the hotel, and then from the hotel to Heathrow."
"Is he on the same flight as us?" asked Hugo.
"No, he didn't have his passport with him."
"Typical Nick. Where is he now?"
"On his way back to London, so you should have at least a twenty-four-hour start on him."
"Let's hope that's enough, but don't let him out of your sight for a moment." Hugo turned off his phone, as he and Margaret left their seats to board the aircraft.
"Have you come across another heirloom, Sir Nicholas?" asked Mr. Blundell hopefully.
"No, but I do need to know if you have a copy of the envelope from this morning's sale," said Da
"Yes, of course," replied Blundell. "We retain a photograph of every item sold at auction, in case a dispute should arise at some later date."
"Would it be possible to see it?" asked Da
"Is there a problem?" asked Blundell.
"No," Da
"Of course," repeated Blundell. He tapped some keys on his computer, and a moment later an image of the letter appeared on the screen. He swiveled the screen around so that Da
Baron de Coubertin
25 rue de la Croix-Rouge
Genéve
La Suisse
Da
"Not to my knowledge," said Blundell. "But of course his son was the founder of one of the most successful banks in Europe."
"Idiot," said Da
"I do hope, Sir Nicholas, that you are not dissatisfied with the result of this morning's sale?"
Da
The first thing Da